THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 

IN  MEMORY  OF 
EDWIN  CORLE 

PRESENTED  BY 
JEAN  CORLE 


'Over  the  line  Merriwell  went  and  dropped  on  the  ball."    See  page  90. 


FRANK  MERRIWEITS  SPORTS  AFIELD 


BURT  L.  STANDISH 

AUTHOR  OF 

"Frank  Merriwell's  Schooldays,"  "Frank  Merriwell's  Trip  West," 

"Frank  MerriwelPs  Chums,"  "Frank  Merriwell's  Foes," 

"Frank  Merriwell  at  Yale,"  etc. 


Copyright,  1903 
By  STREET  &  SMITH 


Prank  Merriwcll's  Sports  Afield 


FRANK  MERRIWELL'S  SPORTS  AFIELD. 


CHAPTER  I. 

A   PEACE   CONFERENCE. 

The  first  year  at  Yale  was  past  and  the  second  had 
begun.  Frank  Merriwell  was  a  sophomore  at  last 

The  year  had  brought  many  changes.  The  men  of 
'Umpty-seven,  the  foes  of  a  year  ago,  were  juniors  now, 
with  a  few  exceptions.  Punch  Swallows,  red-headed, 
big-hearted,  noble  fellow,  had  been  drowned  during  va- 
cation in  a  brave  attempt  to  rescue  a  total  stranger. 
The  stranger  had  fastened  his  hands  on  Swallows'  neck 
with  a  death  clutch,  and  both  had  gone  down.  They 
were  found  locked  in  each  other's  clasp,  and  all  efforts 
at  resuscitation  had  been  fruitless. 

The  death  of  Swallows  cast  a  profound  gloom  over 
'Umpty-seven.  His  former  comrades  and  friends  spoke 
of  him  with  deep  feeling.  It  was  remembered  that  he 
had  always  been  loyal,  and  no  man  could  say  that 
"good  old  Punch"  had  ever  been  known  to  do  a  mean 
thing. 


2035351 


8  A  Peace  Conference. 

Hod  Chadwick  had  broken  down  and  was  said  to  be 
in  a  state  of  complete  nervous  prostration.  When  his 
physician  was  asked  the  cause  he  gave  his  answer  in 
one  word — "Cigarettes." 

But  most  astonishing,  most  wonderful,  most  incom- 
prehensible of  all  things,  Bruce  Browning,  the  "great 
and  only,"  the  "King  of  the  Sophomores,"  had  been 
dropped.  To  the  men  of  'Umpty-eight  such  a  thing 
seemed  utterly  beyond  the  bounds  of  possibility.  The 
boldness  of  the  faculty,  the  remarkable  "nerve"  of  it, 
was  enough  to  make  them  gasp  with  unspeakable 
wonder. 

True,  Browning  had  never  paid  much  attention  to 
his  studies  and  he  had  flunked  times  without  number; 
but  he  had  been  the  leader  of  his  class  in  every  wild 
project.  He  had  been  recognized  and  honored  as 
king ;  it  was  said  that  he  was  away  up  in  He  Boule  and 
was  sure  of  making  Psi  Upsilon  or  Delta  Kappa  Ep- 
silon  in  his  junior  year. 

Now  he  was  dropped.  He  would  have  to  go  all  over 
that  second  year  again  or  abandon  all  hope  of  getting 
through  Yale.  'Umpty-eight  wondered  what  he  would 
do.  It  did  not  seem  possible  that  he,  who  had  been 
Frank  Merriwell's  most  aggressive  antagonist,  could 
bring  himself  to  take  up  with  'Umpty-eight  and  recog- 
nize Merriwell's  supremacy. 


A  Peace  Conference.  9 

'Umpty-eight  had  not  been  broken.  Every  man  re- 
turned, and  all  seemed  to  come  back  in  the  best  of 
spirits.  Even  Roland  Ditson  was  there,  although  he 
was  still  shunned  to  a  great  extent  by  the  men  who 
could  not  forget  his  treachery  of  other  days. 

Merriwell  had  thought  of  securing  apartments  in 
Welch  Hall,  but  he  found  many  of  his  friends  going 
over  into  South  Middle,  and  he  had  a  desire  to  cling 
to  the  gang. 

Harry  Rattleton,  Frank's  close  chum  and  roommate, 
hung  by  Merriwell,  but  he  said  South  Middle  was  good 
enough  for  him,  and  so  to  South  Middle  they  went. 
They  did  not  mind  if  the  floor  did  slant  away  from  the 
windows  and  toward  the  room  in  which  they  slept. 

"I  am  going  to  get  casters  put  on  my  chair,"  said 
Harry,  "and  then  I  can  bate  to  sked — I  mean  skate  to 
bed  without  getting  up  at  all.  All  I'll  have  to  do  is 
give  a  push,  and  away  I'll  scoot  down  the  toboggan 
slide." 

For  all  that  he  had  chosen  South  Middle,  Merriwell 
set  about  decorating  the  rooms  in  a  manner  that  elicited 
no  small  amount  of  surprise.  On  the  floors  he  spread 
rugs  made  from  the  skins  of  tigers,  grizzly  bears,  and 
other  wild  animals.  On  the  walls  he  hung  peculiar 
weapons  of  savage  tribes,  war  clubs,  bows,  arrows,  a 
wooden  spear  with  a  crude  iron  head,  a  heavy  ax,  the 


io  A  Peace  Conference. 

blade  of  which  was  rusty  and  stained  with  blood, 
curved  swords,  queer  old  pistols,  and  other  things  of 
curious  interest  to  all  who  saw  them. 

Away  up  near  the  ceiling,  safely  out  of  reach,  was 
hung  a  strange  knife,  the  blade  of  which  was  tipped 
with  green.  This  knife  was  in  a  case  with  a  glass 
front,  and  on  the  case  was  a  slip  of  paper,  upon  which 
were  printed  these  words : 

"THE  SNAKE  KNIFE  OF  THE  PAMPAS. 
"POISON!" 

On  the  mantel  and  on  cabinet  stands  were  scores  of 
queer  objects,  such  as  stone  idols,  crude  images  of  iron 
and  brass,  strange  and  beautiful  shells,  minerals  and 
crystals,  and  objects  which  were  interesting  but  name- 
less. 

There  were  pictures  of  scenes  in  many  lands,  and  it 
seemed  that  it  must  have  taken  no  small  time  to  make 
such  a  collection  from  various  parts  of  the  world. 

Without  delay  Frank  warned  Harry  not  to  open  the 
case  and  take  out  "the  snake  knife."  He  told  him  the 
warning  on  the  case  was  no  joke,  for  one  prick  from 
the  point  of  that  knife  meant  sure  death. 

"Well,  I'd  like  to  know  where  you  got  hold  of  all 
these  things!"  cried  Rattleton.  "You  must  have 


A  Peace  Conference.  IE 

bought  them  in  a  lump  from  some  crazy  crank  of  a 

collector." 

Frank  smiled  and  shook  his  head. 

"I  gathered  them  one  by  one' myself,"  he  declared, 
"and  there  is  not  an  object  in  the  lot  that  has  not  its 
own  little  story,  some  of  the  stories  being  rather  inter- 
esting." 

Took  here,  Merriwell !"  spluttered  Rattleton.  "Here 
you  and  I  have  been  together  a  year,  and  I  don't  know 
much  of  anything  about  you  save  what  I  have  seen.  I 
have  told  you  all  about  myself,  but  you  never  tell  me 
much  of  yourself.  I  don't  think  it  is  fair.  What's  the 
use  of  bottling  up  that  way  ?  I  have  heard  something 
said  about  you  being  a  traveler  and  going  around  the 
world,  but  I  never  could  get  anything  out  of  you.  Is 
that  giving  me  a  square  deal  ?" 

"What's  the  use  to  talk  about  what  one  has  done? 
It's  not  that  which  counts  here.  It  is  what  a  man  can 
do.  You  know  as  well  as  I  that  every  man  here  is 
sized  up  for  his  ability,  and  not  by  what  he  says  he  has 
been." 

"That's  all  right.  You  have  shown  what  you  can 
do,  and  now  there  is  no  reason  why  you  should  not  let 
your  friends  know  what  you  have  done." 

"Oh,  well,  sometime  when  I  am  in  the  mood  I  don't 
mind  telling  you  some  of  the  stories  connected  with 


12  A  Peace  Conference. 

these  relics  I  have  picked  up.  Wait  till  I  feel  in  the 
spirit." 

Harry  knew  it  was  useless  to  urge  his  friend,  so  he 
waited,  grumbling  somewhat,  and  feeling  his  curiosity 
spurred  and  aroused  whenever  he  looked  at  the  strange 
objects  scattered  about  the  room. 

Frank  and  Harry  notified  their  former  friends  that 
their  rooms  must  still  be  considered  "Liberty  Hall," 
and  so  the  fellows  used  to  drop  in  often,  just  as  they 
had  in  those  days  already  described  in  "Frank  Mem- 
well  at  Yale."  At  least  twice  a  week  there  was  a  jolly 
gathering  there. 

"Fellows,"  said  Frank  one  day,  "I  want  you  all  to 
come  around  to-night.  You  know  Browning,  poor 
fellow,  has  been  pegging  away  by  himself.  I  have  in- 
vited him  around  and  he  is  coming.  We  will  have  a 
general  powwow." 

Browning  came,  and  he  was  welcomed  heartily  by 
his  former  foes.  He  loafed  in  with  his  old  lazy  air 
and  quietly  asked: 

"Gentlemen  of  'Umpty-eight,  have  I  been  invited  to 
the  slaughter,  or  is  it  to  be  a  peace  conference?" 

"We  hope  to  bury  the  hatchet  and  smoke  the  pipe 
of  peace/'  said  Frank. 

'That  is  good,"  said  Browning,  beaming  serenely 
around  him,  "and  it  reminds  me  of  a  conundrum. 


A  Peace  Conference.  13 

What  is  the  difference  between  an  Indian  and  an  Irish- 
man? Give  it  up?  Well,  one  smokes  the  pipe  of 
peace  and  the  other  smokes  a  piece  of  a  pipe.  If  you 
don't  take  my  scalp  now  I  shall  begin  to  believe  you  do 
not  mean  me  any  harm." 

They  gathered  about  him  and  all  shook  his  hand. 
He  was  given  the  most  comfortable  chair  in  the  room, 
and  when  he  had  lighted  a  cigarette  and  placed  his  feet 
on  the  window  sill  he  murmured : 

"Is  it  all  a  dream?  And  are  these  my  foes  of  yore? 
Why,  I  expected  to  drop  with  a  thud,  and  I  have  fallen 
so  lightly  and  alighted  here  in  the  midst  of  'Umpty- 
eight  that  it  has  taken  away  all  the  sting.  Hooray  for 
good  old  'Umpty-eight !  I  am  with  you,  gentlemen, 
and  I  propose  to  get  square  by  wreaking  deadly  venge- 
ance on  'Umpty-nine." 

"Speaking  of  stings,"  chuckled  Danny  Griswold,  "re- 
minds me  of  a  little  rhyme  I  heard  the  other  day.  It 
runs  like  this : 

"  'When  you  see  the  bumblebee 

Bumming  o'er  the  lea, 
M  you  have  good  sense, 
You'll  let  that  bumblebee.' " 

"As  a  rule,  we  are  too  curious,"  laughed  Halliday, 
"We  want  to  touch  him,  just  to  see  if  he  will  bite." 


14  A  Peace  Conference. 

"As  long  as  Browning  has  sprung  a  conundrum  on 
us,"  said  Merriwell,  "I  will  venture  to  give  you  one." 

"Go  on,  gasped  Rattleton.  "It  may  kill  two  or 
three  of  us,  but,  then,  never  mind.  That's  a  small 
matter." 

"Well,  then,  how  would  you  make  a  rooster  lay?" 

"I  would  eggs  plain  to  him  how  it  was  done,"  said 
Robinson,  promptly. 

"That  would  be  eggscellent,"  smiled  Frank,  "but  he 
might  not  eggsactly  understand." 

"Then  I'll  give  it  up.  How  would  you  make  a  roos- 
ter lay?" 

"Hit  him  on  the  head  with  a  club.  That's  the  only 
way  I  know  of." 

There  was  a  deathly  silence,  and  every  fellow  looked 
at  Frank  in  the  blankest  manner  possible.  Not  one  of 
them  cracked  a  smile.  At  last  Griswold  gasped : 

"Air — water — whiskey!  Any  old  thing  will  do! 
If  you  haven't  any  whiskey  give  me  some  strychnine! 
Anything  for  relief  after  that !" 

"That's  pretty  bad,"  said  Silas  Blossom,  "but  I  know 
where  you  will  find  worse." 
"Where?" 
"In  the  dictionary." 
"Look  here,"  drawled  Browning,  with  a  lazy  wave 


A  Peace  Conference.  15 

of  his  hand.  "If  I  had  dreamed  of  this  I  don't  think 
I'd  come  back  to  college." 

"That's  another  reminder,"  said  Halliday.  "I've 
got  a  friend  at  Harvard  who  has  a  little  brother.  One 
day  a  visitor  asked  the  little  fellow  if  his  brother  was 
back  at  college.  'No,  sir/  was  the  prompt  answer. 
'He  is  half-back.' " 

"And  that  is  a  reminder  that  the  football  season  is 
upon  us,"  observed  Robinson.  "Does  any  one  have 
an  idea  how  the  team  will  be  made  up  this  year  ?" 

That  was  a  question  of  universal  interest,  as  was 
immediately  shown  by  the  dropping  of  persiflage. 
Every  man  in  Yale,  regardless  of  whether  he  was  on 
the  team  or  not,  or  had  any  friends  on  the  team,  was 
interested  in  the  'Varsity  eleven.  Yale  had  a  proud 
record  at  the  great  game,  and  that  record  must  be  sus- 
tained. 

But  there  was  no  telling  what  the  season  might  bring 
forth.  In  former  days  Harvard  had  been  Yale's  most 
formidable  rival,  but  now  there  were  others.  Pennsyl- 
vania was  not  in  the  field  for  the  sake  of  giving  other 
teams  practice.  She  was  out  for  business,  first,  last 
and  all  the  time. 

But  Princeton  was  Yale's  great  rival.  There  were 
still  those  who  professed  to  sneer  at  "Old  Nassau,"  but 
the  wise  ones  were  doing  no  sneering.  It  was  no  acci- 


1 6  A  Peace  Conference. 

dent  that  Princeton  had  already  beaten  Yale  hand- 
somely, although  some  cranks  persisted  in  regarding  it 
as  such. 

Beyond  a  doubt  Princeton  was  putting  almost  all  her 
energy  into  football,  and  it  was  plainly  her  intention 
to  beat  Yale  in  the  final  contest  on  Manhattan  field,  in 
New  York. 

"Of  course  no  one  can  tell  anything  about  how  the 
eleven  will  be  made  up,"  said  Blossom.  "As  yet  we 
scarcely  know  who  all  the  candidates  are." 

"I  understand  you  are  making  a  try  for  the  eleven, 
Merriwell?"  said  Griswold.  "This  has  not  been  long?" 

"Not  long,"  answered  Frank.  "I  have  been  invited 
out  to  practice,  that  is  all." 

"And  Halliday,"  said  Jones.  "He  is  practicing,  too. 
Where  do  you  expect  to  play,  Rally  ?" 

"I  don't  know  as  I  shall  play  at  all.  Like  Merriwell, 
I  have  been  asked  to  practice,  that  is  all." 

"Well,  you  can  bet  Old  Man  Hickson  did  not  ask 
you  to  practice  for  fun,"  observed  Burn  Putnam.  "He's 
got  his  eye  on  both  you  and  Merriwell." 

"Here's  Browning,"  cried  Griswold.  "He  knows 
more  about  these  matters  than  we  do.  We  haven't  con- 
sulted him." 

Bruce  blew  out  a  cloud  of  smoke  and  slowly  fanned 
it  away  with  his  hand. 


A  Peace  Conference.  17 

"Don't  put  me  to  any  unnecessary  exertion,  I  beg  of 
you,"  he  murmured.  "I  do  not  care  even  to  think,  un- 
less it  is  absolutely  necessary." 

"Behold  the  champion  lazy  man!"  cried  Rattleton. 
"He  takes  the  first  prize  without  a  struggle." 

"Without  a  struggle  is  good,"  yawned  Bruce.  "If 
I  had  to  struggle  for  it  I'd  never  get  it." 

"You  know  more  about  football  than  the  rest  of  us," 
said  Frank.  "What  can  you  tell  us  of  the  team  ?" 

"Well,  there  is  no  doubt  Flemming,  Thornton,  Van 
Tassle  and  Costigan  will  be  on  the  eleven.  They  are 
the  good  men  left  over  from  last  year.  Flemming  is 
one  of  the  best  end  men  I  ever  saw,  and  Van  Tassle  can 
kick  like  an  old-fashioned  muzzle-loading  gun.  He 
was  full-back  last  year,  but  I  have  heard  that  he  may  be 
placed  in  another  position  this  season.  There  are  lots 
of  new  men  trying  for  the  team,  and  it  will  be  some 
time  before  any  man  will  be  able  to  tell  who  will  get 
there.  It  is  a  fact  that  we  stand  in  desperate  need  of 
new  blood  Yale  must  beat  Princeton  this  year  any- 
how." 

"Princeton!  Who  said  Princeton?"  cried  Blossom, 
derisively.  "Where  is  Princeton,  anyhow?" 

"Now,  don't  you  go  to  making  a  mistake  about 
Princeton,"  warned  Browning,  arousing  a  bit.  "She 
will  show  you  where  she  is  before  the  season  is  over. 


1 8  A  Peace  Conference. 

The  Tigers  are  the  toughest  boys  our  men  will  go 
against  this  year." 

"Oh,  Princeton's  got  the  swelled  head  and  she  thinks 
she  is  going  out  to  do  the  earth.  When  she  gets 
against  Old  Eli  she'll  not  be  in  it  for  a  little  minute." 

"All  right,"  murmured  Bruce,  dreamily ;  "think  that 
way  if  you  like,  but  you'll  find  you  are  fooling  your- 
self." 

He  smiled  a  trifle  wearily  over  the  wonderful  wis- 
dom of  the  new  sophs.  He  had  begun  to  realize  there 
is  no  one  on  earth  who  knows  so  much  in  his  own  mind 
as  a  sophomore — unless  it  is  a  freshman. 

"I  think  Browning  is  right,"  said  Frank.  "I  have 
heard  that  Princeton  already  knows  very  nearly  who 
will  be  on  her  eleven,  and  they  are  hammering  away 
now  like  the  tigers  they  are  to  get  themselves  into 
shape.  Crackingham  is  the  principal  coach,  and  ev- 
erybody knows  what  he  can  do  with  decent  material." 

"You  talk  as  if  you  acknowledged  Princeton's  su- 
periority already,  Merriwell,"  put  in  Halliday  in  a 
manner  that  was  somewhat  cutting.  "That's  not  the 
right  spirit." 

"You  mistake  me  entirely,  Halliday.  I  do  not  ac- 
knowledge Princeton's  superiority,  but  I  believe  the 
Tigers  will  be  our  strongest  opponents.  I  think  over- 


A  Peace  Conference.  19 

confidence  is  even  worse  than  healthy  respect  for  an 
enemy's  ability." 

Frank  was  touched  a  trifle  by  Halliday's  words  and 
manner.  He  realized  that  Ben  was  a  bit  jealous,  and 
it  was  that  which  led  him  to  speak  in  such  a  manner. 

"What's  this  yarn  about  Princeton  having  a  new  and 
improved  tackling  machine?"  asked  Putnam. 

"It  is  straight,"  said  Browning. 

"Well,  what  are  the  improvements  on  the  old  ar- 
rangement ?" 

"That  I  do  not  know,  but  I  have  heard  that  a  man 
is  forced  to  tackle  it  in  a  proper  manner,  or  he  is  sure  to 
get  his  head  injured.  That  makes  them  get  down  in 
practice." 

"Oh,  this  tackling  machine  business  is  all  rot !"  cried 
Robinson.  "It  is  better  to  tackle  a  man  who  is  run- 
ning." 

"That  is  all  right  enough,"  admitted  Browning,  "but 
every  time  you  tackle  a  man  there  is  a  good  chance  for 
one  or  the  other  to  be  severely  hurt,  and  it  doesn't  pay 
to  use  up  your  men  in  practice.  Over  training  and 
over  practice  are  great  evils.  With  the  machine  a  man 
is  taught  to  tackle  exactly  as  he  should,  and  the  chances 
of  his  being  injured  are  lessened.  I  favor  the  ma- 
chine." 

"Well,  I  suppose  you  know,"  grinned  Robinson,  "but 


so  A  Peace  Conference. 

it  seems  foolish  to  me  to  practice  tackling  a  hard-stuffed 
bag  swung  by  ropes  and  pulleys." 

'Don't  you  ever  tackle  old  Crackingham  for  a  fool, 
and  he  recommends  the  machine.  He  will  keep  every 
Princeton  man  at  it  till  they  are  perfect  in  the  art  of 
tackling." 

"Well,  we'll  do  them,  anyway!"  shouted  Griswold. 
"They  may  have  all  their  machines  and  everything  else, 
but  we'll  get  there  just  the  same." 

"If  you  should  happen  to  make  such  a  record  at  foot- 
ball as  you  did  at  baseball  you'd  get  your  name  up, 
Merriwell,"  said  Blossom. 

"Don't  you  think  it  is  trying  too  much  to  play  both 
games  ?"  asked  Jones,  with  a  queer  look  at  both  Merri- 
well and  Halliday. 

"Oh,  I  don't  know,"  answered  Frank.  "Athletics 
are  my  very  life,  I  keep  alive  by  the  work  I  do  in  that 
line." 

"I  do  not  believe  a  man  who  is  a  baseball  pitcher 
should  take  chances  of  being  injured  in  football,"  said 
Browning. 

"I  may  not  get  an  opportunity  to  take  any  chances," 
said  Frank,  with  a  smile. 

Outside  the  door  of  the  room,  which  was  slightly 
open,  a  youth  had  paused  to  listen.  He  knew  he  would 
not  be  welcome  in  Merriwell's  room,  and  so  he  did  not 


A  Peace  Conference.  21 

enter,  but  he  stood  there,  his  lips  curling  in  a  sneer 
whenever  he  heard  Frank  speak.  As  Merriwell  ut- 
tered the  final  words  the  listener  hoarsely  whispered  to 
himself : 

"You'll  not  get  an  opportunity  if  I  can  help  it!  I 
have  kept  quiet  a  long  time,  and  they  are  watching  me 
no  longer.  Now  I  will  make  one  more  effort  to  strike 
a  blow  that  will  reach  you.  I'll  take  care  that  I  am  not 
found  out  in  it  this  time,  whether  I  fail  or  not.  But  I 
will  not  fail!  I  hate  Frank  Merriwell — I  hate  him, 
hate  him !  It  is  hard  to  keep  my  hatred  in  check,  but 
the  past  has  taught  me  to  be  careful.  But  I  will  find  a 
way  to  ruin  Merriwell's  prospects  and  drag  him  in  the 
mire  of  disgrace,  as  he  has  dragged  me,  or  my  name  is 
not  Roland  Ditson!" 

Then  he  tiptoed  gently  away  from  the  door. 


CHAPTER  II. 

FOOTBALL   PRACTICE. 

Both  Merriwell  and  Halliday  went  to  practice  regu- 
larly. Old  Man  Hickson  pretended  not  to  pay  much 
attention  to  either  of  them,  letting  the  other  coaches 
take  them  in  hand,  but  he  had  his  eyes  on  them  all  the 
time,  and  one  day  Halliday  overheard  him  say : 

"Those  fellows  both  show  up  pretty  well.  I  haven't 
decided  between  them  yet." 

"If  Merriwell  were  out  of  the  way  I'd  get  on  the 
team,"  thought  Ben,  dolefully. 

Halliday  soon  found  an  opportunity  to  speak  to 
Frank. 

"Merry,  old  boy,"  he  said,  "if  we  both  keep  at  this 
one  of  us  will  have  to  be  a  substitute.  We  can't  both 
get  on  the  team." 

"How  do  you  know  ?" 

"I  have  it  straight.  Now,  don't  you  think  you  have 
won  glory  enough  at  baseball  ?  Why  shouldn't  you  let 
up  on  this  and  give  me  a  show  ?" 

"By  Jove !  that  is  a  cheeky  proposal,  Halliday !"  ex- 
claimed Frank.  "I  really  admire  your  nerve!" 

Ben  flushed. 


Football  Practice.  23 

"Well,  I  don't  know !"  he  said,  rather  warmly.  "I 
didn't  suppose  you  were  looking  for  all  the  glory  there 
is  to  be  gathered  in." 

"Is  that  a  crime  ?  But  I  will  tell  you  frankly  that  it 
is  not  so  much  the  glory  I  am  looking  for  as  the  sport. 
Besides  that,  if  I  can  do  anything  to  put  Old  Eli  on 
top  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  do  all  I  can.  Why,  man,  you 
don't  know  what  will  happen!  Here  are  more  than 
thirty  of  us  going  out  day  after  day  and  working  like 
slaves.  We  get  bruised  and  bunged  and  we  are  jawed, 
but  we  keep  at  it,  willing  to  take  anything  for  the  sake 
of  Old  Eli.  Already  eight  or  ten  fellows  have  been 
told  to  get  their  hair  cut  and  show  themselves  on  the 
campus,  which  is  notification  that  they  are  not  wanted 
and  are  out  of  the  game  for  this  year  at  least.  If  we 
do  not  continue  to  improve  one  of  us  may  be  notified 
next — who  knows  ?" 

This  did  not  satisfy  Halliday.  Somehow  he  felt 
sure  that  if  it  came  to  a  matter  of  choosing  between 
them  Merriwell  was  certain  to  be  the  one  selected. 

At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  on  practice  days 
Yale  field  would  be  deserted.  The  baseball  diamond 
showed  neglect  and  the  grand  stand  was  covered  with 
dust.  Farther  on,  the  white  goal  posts  of  the  football 
field  loomed  up  like  lighthouses.  The  grass  was  green 
and  the  chalk  lines  of  the  gridiron  new  and  fresh. 


24  Football  Practice. 

Shortly  after  two  o'clock  Captain  Hickson,  wearing 
a  blue  sweater  on  which  was  a  large  white  Y,  would 
come  through  the  gate  at  a  dog  trot.  Behind  him 
would  follow  between  thirty  and  forty  young  men, 
from  whom  the  eleven  must  eventually  be  chosen.  Ev- 
ery third  man  carried  a  new  football. 

Straight  to  the  gridiron  Hickson  led  the  men,  and 
then  sweaters  were  quickly  shed,  and  in  a  few  seconds 
the  boys  began  to  pass  the  ball. 

The  captain  of  the  previous  year  was  there,  and  he 
was  consulted  by  Old  Man  Hickson.  Other  coaches 
were  at  hand,  but  as  this  was  still  so  early  in  the  season 
there  were  but  two  of  them.  Later  on  there  would  be 
more,  until  a  week  before  the  annual  game  it  was  prob- 
able there  would  be  nearly  as  many  coaches  as  players. 

Captain  Hickson  selected  a  dozen  men  and  took  them 
off  into  a  corner  of  the  field,,  where  he  lined  them  up 
and  then  made  them  go  through  the  motions  of  ad- 
vancing the  ball,  using  some  very  simple  signals.  The 
ball  was  snapped  back,  the  line  broke  into  interference, 
and  the  men  moved  forward  a  short  distance,  where 
they  stopped  and  formed  again. 

The  rest  of  the  squad  were  taken  in  hand  by  the  two 
coaches,  who  used  anything  but  language  that  was  mild 
and  gentle  in  addressing  them. 

"Line  up  in  front  of  these  goal  posts !"  yelled  one. 


Football  Practice.  25 

"And  get  a  move  on,  too !"  shouted  the  other.  "You 
are  not  out  here  for  your  health." 

The  lads  made  a  lively  scramble  for  positions,  and 
then  two  of  them  were  called  on  to  stand  out  and  catch 
some  punts. 

Boom!  Away  sailed  the  ball  into  the  air,  with  a 
twisting  motion. 

"I'll  take  it,"  cried  one  young  fellow  as  he  got  into 
position. 

But  he  muffed  and  the  coach  instantly  cried : 

"What's  your  name?" 

The  unfortunate  muffer  humbly  gave  his  name. 

"Well,  what  do  you  know,  anyway  ?  Ever  try  for  a 
position  before  ?" 

The  one  questioned  confessed  that  it  was  his  third 
trial. 

"And  you  don't  know  how  to  catch  a  football  yet. 
This  isn't  baseball.  Here,  take  'em  down  here — like 
this.  Ready  for  another  now.  Look  out  for  those 
double  twisters!  Run  in — run  in  on  it!  Don't  stand 
there  like  a  gawk !" 

The  candidate  attempted  to  obey,  but  he  made  an- 
other muff.  Eight  balls  came  over  before  he  succeeded 
in  holding  one. 

"One  out  of  eight !"  sneered  the  coach.    "That  is 


26  Football  Practice. 

great  work !  You're  a  whole  eleven !  Get  back,  now, 
and  give  somebody  else  a  show." 

And  so  it  went  on,  the  perspiring  candidates  mak- 
ing numerous  muffs  and  being  railed  at  by  the  energetic 
coaches,  who  got  red  in  the  face  shouting  criticisms 
and  comments. 

It  was  not  play.  It  was  genuine  work,  and  the  as- 
piring candidates  never  murmured,  no  matter  how  se- 
vere the  language  of  the  coaches.  They  were  made  to 
run  after  balls  they  muffed  and  fall  on  them ;  they  were 
told  the  fine  points  of  punt  catching ;  they  were  kept  on 
the  jump  every  moment  of  the  time.  At  last  one  of 
the  disgusted  coaches  shouted : 

"I  presume  you  are  all  aware  that  this  is  a  roaring 
farce?" 

There  were  ten  minutes  of  this  kind  of  work,  and 
then  two  elevens  were  made  up  and  a  short  game  was 
played. 

The  coaches  took  their  positions  behind  the  teams 
and  kept  the  men  at  it  like  slave  drivers.  They  yelled 
their  comments  and  criticisms  so  loudly  that  the  signals 
of  the  quarter-backs  could  scarcely  be  heard. 

After  five  minutes  of  this  the  teams  were  given  a 
short  rest,  and  then  they  were  driven  to  work  again, 
and  they  were  kept  at  it  till  time  for  practice  was  over. 


Football  Practice.  27 

Neither  of  the  coaches  used  profanity,  but  on  sev- 
eral occasions  they  looked  as  if  they  longed  to  do  so. 

When  it  was  all  over  the  men  drew  on  their  sweaters 
and  left  the  field,  climbing  on  board  two  trolley  cars 
which  were  waiting  for  them  near  the  entrance. 

It  happened  that  Merriwell  and  Halliday  sat  side  by 
side  on  the  way  back  from  the  field,  and  Frank  noticed 
that  Ben  was  downcast  and  glum. 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  Frank. 

"I  don't  know,"  was  the  answer,  "but  T  never  made 
such  a  mess  of  practice  before.  I'm  afraid  I  have  hurt 
my  chances." 

"Nonsense!  A  man  whom  Hickson  has  looked  on 
with  favor  isn't  going  to  ruin  his  chances  so  easily. 
You  were  out  of  condition — didn't  feel  well,  that's  all. 
You  will  be  all  right  next  time." 

"Well,  it  isn't  any  school  picnic." 

"Not  any!  But  you've  got  stamina  and  you  will 
make  the  team.  Just  keep  at  it  for  all  you  are  worth." 

Halliday  did  not  say  anything  more,  but  he  thought : 

"If  you  weren't  a  white  man,  Merriwell,  I  could  hate 
you ;  but  you  don't  seem  to  know  what  it  is  to  be  jealous 
of  another  fellow." 

Among  those  trying  for  the  eleven  was  Evan  Hart- 
wick,  who  had  formerly  been  the  roommate  and  friend 
of  Bruce  Browning.  Hartwick  was  a  tall,  well-built 


28  Football  Practice. 

lad,  who  held  a  very  high  opinion  of  himself  and  his 
own  abilities. 

While  Browning  had  secretly  admired  Merriwell, 
even  when  they  were  open  enemies,  Hartwick  had  ever 
professed  the  utmost  scorn  for  Frank.  As  he  was  not 
popular  himself,  he  could  not  understand  how  another 
lad  could  become  so  well  known  and  well  liked  during 
his  freshman  year. 

Hartwick  had  made  a  desperate  try  for  the  eleven  the 
year  before,  and  nothing  could  convince  him  that  he 
had  failed  to  succeed  through  his  own  lack  of  ability. 
He  firmly  believed  that  there  had  been  favoritism  in  the 
selection  of  the  team  and  that  was  why  he  had  not 
got  on. 

"Next  year,"  he  thought — "next  year  I  will  get 
there." 

When  Hartwick  saw  Merriwell  among  the  candi- 
dates he  felt  like  choking  him. 

"It  will  be  his  luck  to  win  and  keep  somebody  else 
out !"  thought  Evan.  "I  never  saw  a  fellow  have  such 
luck.  He  never  tries  for  anything  that  he  doesn't 
make  a  go  of  it,  and  there  are  lots  of  fellows  just  as 
smart  as  he  is." 

Hartwick  never  could  see  how  it  was  possible  for 
any  fellow  to  be  smarter  than  himself.  If  they  beai 
him  at  anything  it  must  be  from  sheer  luck. 


Football  Practice.  29 

Until  Browning  was  dropped  Merriwell  scarcely 
knew  there  was  such  a  fellow  as  Hartwick  at  Yale. 
Then  when  he  heard  that  Browning's  former  room- 
mate and  chum  had  cut  him  dead  he  felt  that  such  a 
man  must  be  a  thoroughbred  cad,  and  he  looked  Hart- 
wick  over. 

But  Frank  soon  had  cause  to  remember  Evan  Hart- 
wick. 

One  afternoon  as  Merriwell  and  a  friend  had  paused 
to  chat  a  moment  on  a  corner,  two  very  pretty  girls 
came  along.  The  face  of  one  of  them  in  particular 
was  attractive  to  Frank,  and  he  looked  at  her,  without 
giving  her  a  rude  stare. 

As  the  girls  passed  the  one  that  had  attracted  Frank's 
notice  dropped  a  letter  she  was  carrying.  He  lost  no 
time  in  picking  it  up  and  hastening  to  restore  it  to  her. 

The  letter  was  plainly  one  that  had  lately  been  re- 
ceived through  the  mail,  and  as  Frank  lifted  it  from  the 
pavement  he  observed  the  name  upon  it. 

That  name  was  Miss  Winifred  Lee. 

"A  pretty  name,  and  a  remarkably  pretty  girl," 
thought  Frank  as  he  hurried  after  the  girls. 

Lifting  his  hat  he  said : 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  but  I  think  one  of  you  young 
ladies  dropped  this  letter." 

"Why,  yes,  it  is  mine,"  said  the  girl  Frank  had  no- 


30  Football  Practice. 

ticed,  receiving  it  from  his  hand.  "How  careless  of 
me !  Thank  you,  sir." 

Their  eyes  met,  and  the  glance  that  she  gave  him  was 
both  coquettish  and  modest.  It  sent  a  singular  feeling 
straight  to  Merriwell's  heart,  and  the  look  in  his  own 
eyes  was  enough  to  bring  a  bit  of  additional  color  to 
her  cheeks. 

"You  are  entirely  welcome,"  murmured  Frank.  "It 
was  a  pleasure." 

Then  the  girls  went  on  and  left  Frank,  in  a  rather 
bewildered  condition,  staring  after  them,  although  he 
was  quite  unaware  that  he  was  doing  so. 

"By  Jove !"  he  muttered ;  "she's  a  queen,  and  that  is 
on  the  level !  Those  eyes — those  lips !  Good  gracious ! 
but  I  would  like  to  know  her !" 

Then  he  observed  a  young  man  who  was  hurrying  to 
overtake  the  girls,  and  to  his  surprise  he  saw  it  was 
Hartwick. 

"Can  it  be  that  fellow  knows  them?"  murmured 
Frank. 

The  point  was  soon  decided,  for  Hartwick  overtook 
them,  lifted  his  hat  gracefully,  and  walked  along  at 
their  side.  Both  girls  recognized  him. 

"Well,  he  is  dead  lucky!"  said  Merriwell.  "He  is 
a  year  ahead  of  me,  and  so  he  has  had  a  chance  to  meet 


Football  Practice.  31 

good  people.     A  freshman  never  gets  a  show.     Next 
year  comes  the  junior  prom." 

He  wandered  back  toward  South  Middle,  and  all  the 
way  a  pair  of  beautiful  eyes  seemed  looking  into  his. 
When  the  campus  was  reached  he  shook  himself,  fo; 
cing  a  laugh. 

"One  would  think  you  had  never  seen  a  girl  before, 
old  man!"  he  murmured.  "You  act  lovesick!  Get  a 
brace  on!" 

He  came  upon  a  little  party  that  was  discussing  foot- 
ball matters  and  stopped  to  listen.  He  did  not  take 
much  part  in  the  conversation,  answering  when  ad- 
dressed, but  advancing  no  ideas. 

Perhaps  twenty  minutes  were  parsed  in  this  manner, 
and  then  he  went  on  again.  He  had  not  walked  far 
before  he  heard  a  quick  step  behind  him  and  felt  a 
heavy  hand  fall  on  his  shoulder. 


CHAPTER  III. 

ANOTHER     FOE. 

The  touch  was  not  friendly  and  Frank  whirled  in- 
stantly. He  found  himself  confronted  by  Evan  Hart- 
wick,  whose  face  wore  anything  but  a  pleasant  expres- 
sion. 

"Look  here,  Merriwell,"  said  Hartwick,  savagely. 
"I've  a  bone  to  pick  with  you !" 

Frank  was  surprised,  but  he  remained  cool  and  un- 
ruffled. 

"Well,  sir,"  he  said,  looking  Hartwick  straight  in  the 
eye,  "what  is  it?" 

"I  want  you  to  apologize  for  the  manner  in  which 
you  addressed  Miss  Lee  and  Miss  Darley,  sir." 

Frank  fell  back  a  step  and  his  brow  darkened. 

"You  want  me  to  apologize?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Why  should  I  apologize?" 

"Because  you  insulted  them,  sir." 

Merriwell's  eyes  seemed  to  look  straight  through 
Hartwick,  and  his  voice  was  hard  and  even  as  he  de- 
liberately said: 

"If  you  say  I  insulted  those  young  la  dies  you  lie,  sir." 


Another  Foe.  33 

There  could  be  no  mistaking  Merriwell's  meaning. 
Certainly  his  words  were  plain  enough.  He  showed 
that  he  was  ready  to  back  them  up  if  necessary. 

Hartwick's  hands  clinched,  and  he  drew  his  breath 
through  his  teeth  sharply.  His  face  showed  all  the 
hatred  for  Merriwell  that  he  had  kept  subdued  so  long. 

"If  it  wasn't  for  the  disgrace  of  having  a  row  with 
you  I  would  strangle  you  on  the  spot !"  he  grated. 

Frank  snapped  his  fingers. 

"Anybody  could  say  that,"  he  returned.  "You 
might  find  doing  it  quite  a  different  thing,  Hartwick." 

"You  refuse  to  apologize?" 

"I  have  nothing  for  which  to  apologize,  sir." 

"I  saw  you  speak  to  them." 

"What  if  you  did  ?  One  of  the  young  ladies  dropped 
a  letter  and  I  simply  returned  it  to  her." 

"They  both  say  you  were  insulting  in  your  words 
and  actions." 

"They  say  that?" 

"Yes." 

"I  do  not  believe  you,  sir." 

Hartwick  started  forward  a  bit,  his  white,  clinched 
teeth  showing  between  his  slightly  parted  lips. 

"You  insolent  dog!"  he  panted.  "I  have  half  a 
mind  to " 


34  Another  Foe. 

"Better  make  it  a  whole  mind  and  try  it  on.  You 
can't  tell  what  will  happen  to  you  till  you  do." 

Frank  was  watching  Hartwick's  every  move,  ready 
to  promptly  meet  anything  he  might  attempt.  He  did 
not  fancy  Evan  would  carry  the  matter  very  far  there 
and  then,  but  he  realized  well  enough  that  he  had  sud- 
denly and  unexpectedly  aroused  another  enemy. 

"Not  now,"  said  Hartwick  after  a  moment.  "I  may 
see  you  again.  If  you  ever  dare  address  either  of  those 
young  ladies  again  I'll  choke  the  life  out  of  your  body !" 

Then  he  whirled  and  strode  away. 

Frank  stood  watching  Hartwick  till  he  disappeared, 
then  he  muttered : 

"I  believe  the  whole  thing  is  a  severe  case  of  jeal- 
ousy on  his  part.  If  I  am  not  mistaken  he  is  stuck  on 
one  of  those  girls,  and  that's  what  ails  him.  They 
must  have  said  something  about  me  that  put  him  in 
such  a  mood.  I  wonder  what  it  could  have  been?" 

He  knew  well  enough  that  the  matter  was  not  ended. 
In  fact,  he  did  not  intend  to  let  it  drop  there.  He  had 
been  accused  of  insulting  a  young  lady,  and  he  must 
exonerate  himself. 

Straightway  Frank  went  to  his  room,  sat  down,  and 
after  much  trouble  and  the  destroying  of  several  sheets 
of  paper,  he  wrote  the  following  brief  note : 


Another  Foe.  35 

"NEW  HAVEN,  CONN.,  Sept.  18. 
"My  DEAR  Miss  LEE  :  I  trust  you  will  pardon  me  for 
addressing  you,  but  I  have  been  accused  by  Mr.  Evan 
Hartwick  of  insulting  you  upon  the  street  to-day.  You 
will  remember  that  I  simply  returned  to  you  a  letter 
you  had  dropped,  doing  so  in  a  manner  that  I  believed 
perfectly  courteous  and  gentlemanly ;  yet  Mr.  Hartwick 
has  told  me  to  my  face  that  you  said  I  was  insolent  in 
my  language  and  manner.  If  it  is  not  asking  too  much 
I  hope  you  will  exonerate  me  in  this,  as  I  do  not  relish 
the  odium  of  having  insulted  a  lady. 

"Most  respectfully  yours, 

"FRANK  MBRRIWELL. 
"To  Miss  Winifred  Lee, 
"City." 

Frank  lost  no  time  in  mailing  this  note. 

That  evening  he  told  Harry  about  the  affair.  Rat- 
tleton  grew  excited  immediately. 

"Confound  the  blooming  cad!"  he  cried.  "Why 
didn't  you  jack  him  in  the  smaw — I  mean  smack  him 
in  the  jaw?  That's  what  he  needed!  Why,  I  know 
of  this  Miss  Lee.  She  is  a  star !  Her  old  man's  got 
government  bonds  to  use  for  kindling.  Hartwick  has 
been  trying  to  get  in  there  for  some  time.  Don't  know 
how  successful  he  has  been,  but  he  keeps  hanging 
around.  Said  you  insulted  her?  Poly  hoker!  That 
makes  me  hotter  than  a  cake  of  ice!" 


36  Another  Foe. 

"Keep  cool,  old  man,  and  we  will  see  if  Miss  Lee  is 
gracious  enough  to  answer  my  note.  If  she  does " 

"And  she  says  Hartwick  lied " 

"Hartwick  swallows  his  words  or  he  and  I  will  dis- 
turb the  peace." 

"That's  the  talk,  Merry!  I  hope  you'll  knock  the 
everlasting  stuffing  out  of  him !" 

The  next  day  Frank  received  an  answer  from  Wini- 
fred Lee.  He  tore  open  the  envelope  with  some  haste 
and  read  the  following  brief  but  highly  satisfactory 
communication : 

"DEAR  MR.  MERRIWELL  :  I  think  there  must  be  some 
misunderstanding  concerning  the  matter  of  which  you 
wrote,  and  I  assure  you  that  I  regard  your  conduct  and 
words  in  returning  to  me  the  letter  I  dropped  as  courte- 
ous and  gentlemanly  in  every  way.  I  did  not  tell  Mr. 
Hartwick  that  you  were  insolent,  but  both  Miss  Darley 
and  myself  spoke  of  you  as  having  been  very  gracious 
and  polite.  I  am  sure  there  is  a  misunderstanding. 
"Sincerely  yours, 

"WINIFRED  LEE. 
"To  Mr.  Frank  Merriweli, 
"City." 

"That  settles  it!"  muttered  Frank.  "I  did  not  think 
Hartwick  could  have  any  grounds  for  such  an  out- 
rageous charge." 


Another  Foe.  37 

He  showed  the  answer  to  Rattleton,  who,  having 
read  it,  grimly  said : 

"That  explains  the  whole  business.  The  girls  spoke 
of  you  in  a  complimentary  manner,  and  Hartwick  was 
insanely  jealous." 

"Well,  I  propose  to  make  him  take  water  or  fight! 
This  is  more  than  I  can  endure!  There  is  no  other 
way  to  settle  the  matter,  for  it  must  be  settled  without 
bringing  Miss  Lee's  name  into  the  affair.  Be  careful, 
old  fellow,  and  not  mention  her  as  in  any  way  con- 
nected with  any  trouble  that  may  arise  between  Hart- 
wick  and  myself." 

"Don't  worry  about  that.  I  rather  think  I  have 
good  sense  enough  not  to  do  a  thing  like  that." 

All  that  day  Frank  looked  for  a  good  opportunity  to 
get  Hartwick  aside,  where  what  passed  between  them 
would  not  be  heard  by  others.  In  this  he  was  not  suc- 
cessful. Hartwick  pretended  to  be  utterly  unaware 
of  Merriwell's  presence  on  the  earth. 

"He  can't  work  that  racket,"  thought  Frank.  "I  am 
going  to  call  him  to  account,  and  that  without  delay." 

After  supper  Frank  and  Harry  set  out  to  look  for 
Hartwick.  It  was  near  ten  o'clock  when  they  found 
him  in  Morey's,  a  popular  resort  for  students.  Evan 
was  drinking  with  several  of  his  particular  friends,  but 
Frank  did  not  hesitate  about  addressing  him. 


38  Another  Foe. 

Walking  up  to  the  table  at  which  his  enemy  sat, 
Frank  calmly  said : 

"Mr.  Hartwick,  I  would  like  to  speak  in  private  with 
you." 

Evan  slowly  put  down  his  glass  of  ale,  deliberately 
turned,  and  surveyed  Merriwell  from  head  to  feet  in 
the  most  aggravating  and  insolent  manner. 

"What  have  you  to  say  to  me?"  he  asked,  as  if 
Frank  were  a  cur. 

Merriwell  held  his  temper. 

"I  told  you,  sir,  that  I  wished  to  speak  with  you  in 
private." 

"I  do  not  care  to  have  anything  to  say  to  you  in 
private." 

"But  it  is  a  matter  which  we  cannot  publicly  discuss." 

"Then  I  do  not  care  to  discuss  it" 

"That  will  not  go.  It  concerns  a  certain  person 
whose  name  neither  of  us  should  mention  here.  You 
have  charged  me  with  insulting  that  person." 

"Well?" 

"Well,  sir,  I  have  in  my  possession  a  letter  that  is 
positive  proof  that  you  lied." 

Hartwick  leaped  to  his  feet. 

"What!"  he  cried.  "Do  you  dare  tell  me  this? 
Why,  I  wiH •• 


Another  Foe.  39 

"Steady,  old  man,"  warned  one  of  his  friends,  while 
others  crowded  around.  "Consider  where  you  are," 

"But  this — this  creature  has  called  me  a  liar !"  fumed 
Evan.  "Stand  aside !  Let  me  get  at  him !" 

One  of  the  party  spoke  earnestly  and  guardedly  to 
Hartwick,  who  seemed  to  cool  down  in  a  remarkable 
manner  while  he  listened.  When  his  friend  had  fin- 
ished Hartwick  said : 

"You  are  right,  Walker,  I  cannot  afford  to  get  into 
a  saloon  row  with  such  a  person.  I  donrt  think  I  can 
afford  to  fight  him,  anyway,  and  so  all  I  can  do  is  ig- 
nore him." 

"But  you  have  lied  about  me,  and  if  you  have  any 
blood  in  your  body  you  must  fight,"  declared  Frank. 

Hartwick  sat  down,  as  if  quite  unaware  that  Merri- 
well  was  near. 

"A  man  can't  afford  to  dirty  his  hands  on  some  crea- 
tures," he  said,  loftily. 

"I  see  that  you  do  not  have  the  courage  to  fight," 
said  Frank  as  he  drew  off  his  left  glove.  "You  are 
ready  to  grasp  at  anything  to  avoid  the  encounter. 
Well,  sir,  there  is  such  a  thing  as  fixing  matters  so  you 
can  only  refuse  to  fight  by  publicly  acknowledging 
yourself  a  coward." 

And  then,  like  a  flash,  he  slapped  Hartwick  on  the 
cheek  with  the  glove  he  had  just  removed. 


40  Another  Foe. 

Evan  shot  up  like  a  rocket,  but  he  was  instantly 
grasped,  while  several  placed  themselves  between  the 
two. 

Frank  Merriwell  remained  as  cool  as  ice,  serenely 
drawing  off  his  other  glove.  One  of  Hartwick's 
friends  made  some  threatening  talk,  to  which  Merri- 
well calmly  returned : 

"After  I  have  done  with  Mr.  Hartwick,  if  he  leaves 
me  in  condition,  I  will  do  my  best  to  give  you  satisfac- 
tion. At  present  my  quarrel  is  with  Hartwick,  not 
you,  sir." 

Rattleton  said  not  a  word,  but  he  was  at  Frank's 
right  hand,  ready  to  take  part  if  necessary. 

But  fighting  was  one  of  the  things  that  was  not  al- 
lowed in  Morey's,  and  both  lads  were  warned  against  it. 

"I  don't  care  about  fighting  him  here,"  said  Frank, 
"but  I  will  meet  him  at  any  time  and  place  he  may 
name." 

"You  shall  regret  this!"  grated  Hartwick.  "You'll 
wish  you'd  never  met  me !  I'll  fix  you !" 

Frank  simply  smiled. 

That  was  the  end  of  the  affair  in  Morey's.  Frank 
expected  to  hear  from  Hartwick  immediately,  but  three 
days  passed  and  Evan  showed  no  inclination  to  bring 
about  the  encounter. 

"Well,"  said  Merriwell,  "if  he  lets  it  drop  now,  I  am 


Another  Foe.  41 

satisfied.  It  seemed  like  playing  the  bully,  but  I  was 
forced  to  do  what  I  did." 

"That's  so,"  nodded  Rattleton.  "If  you  hadn't  you 
would  have  shown  the  white  feather." 

Frank  chanced  to  come  face  to  face  with  Winifred 
Lee  on  the  street.  He  wondered  if  she  would  recog- 
nize him,  but  he  was  not  prepared  for  the  flashing  look 
of  disdain  which  she  gave  him.  It  almost  took  away 
his  breath  and  filled  him  with  consternation  and 
wonder. 

"What  can  it  mean?"  he  thought.  "What  have  I 
done  now  that  she  should  look  at  me  in  that  way?" 

He  was  bewildered,  and  he  grew  more  so  the  longer 
he  thought  the  matter  over.  It  became  plain  to  him 
that  the  girl  had  given  him  a  genuine  look  of  con- 
tempt, but  what  he  had  done  to  merit  it  was  more  than 
he  could  understand. 

So  Frank  kept  about  his  training  for  the  football 
team,  working  hard  all  the  time,  and  having  hopes  of 
being  chosen  for  some  position. 

Frank  was  a  great  sprinter,  a  fact  which  Old  Man 
Hickson  had  found  out  to  his  satisfaction.  Hickson 
had  seen  Merriwell  play  baseball,  and  he  had  seen  him 
make  two  bags  out  of  a  single  and  three  bags  out  of  a 
two-bag  hit  simply  by  his  wonderful  speed  in  going 


42  Another  Foe. 

around  the  bases.  Frank  had  a  wonderful  way  of 
leaping  off  at  a  high  speed  from  a  standstill. 

The  crowd  of  aspirants  kept  thinning  down,  but  still 
Merriwell,  Halliday  and  Hartwick  were  retained.  In- 
deed, in  making  up  the  teams  for  practice  play  Old 
Man  Hickson  fell  to  giving  Merriwell  the  position  of 
half-back  with  promising  regularity. 

Frank  allowed  nothing  to  interfere  with  his  practice 
and  his  studies,  but  it  happened  that  both  he  and  Harry 
were  invited  to  a  swell  german  that  was  to  be  the  be- 
ginning of  the  season  in  New  Haven  society,  and  they 
felt  it  a  duty  to  show  themselves,  if  they  didjiot  stay. 

They  went,  immaculate  in  evening  dress  and  chokers, 
and  it  happened  that  almost  the  first  person  Frank  saw 
on  arriving  was  Winifred  Lee.  She  saw  him,  too,  and 
she  gave  him  a  queer  look  that  was  half  an  invitation, 
and  Frank  instantly  resolved  to  remain. 

He  lost  little  time  in  seeking  for  an  introduction  to 
Winifred,  and  he  was  successful  in  obtaining  what  he 
desired.  Her  card  showed  the  lancers  had  not  been 
taken,  and  Frank  begged  the  privilege  of  dancing  that 
set  with  her. 

"Well,  I  don't  know,"  she  said,  looking  at  him  se- 
verely. "I  think  I  ought  not  to  give  it  to  you." 

"Indeed,  and  why  not?"  exclaimed  Frank.  <rWhat 
have  I  done  to  deserve  a  refusal  ?" 


Another  Foe.  43 

"You  should  know  that  most  young  ladies  do  not 
care  to  have  their  names  mentioned  in  connection  with 
a  saloon  quarrel,"  said  Winifred,  and  Frank  felt  the 
sting  of  her  eyes  and  her  manner. 

"I  don't  think  I  understand  you,"  he  said,  slowly, 
"but  I  assure  you,  Miss  Lee,  I  have  never  mentioned 
your  name  in  any  saloon." 

"Really!  How  about  your  little  encounter  with 
Mr.  Hartwick  in  a  place  called  Morey's  ?" 

"I  give  you  my  word  of  honor  that  your  name  was 
not  mentioned  by  either  of  us.  That  I  can  prove,  Miss 
Lee." 

She  looked  at  him  earnestly. 

"You  seem  to  be  speaking  the  truth,"  she  said,  with 
unconventional  frankness. 

"I  assure  you  that  I  am.  If  anybody  has  ever  stated 
to  you  that  I  ever  mentioned  your  name  in  any  public 
place,  that  person  has  told  you  what  is  not  true." 

Something  like  a  light  of  relief  swept  over  her  face, 
and  she  suddenly  held  out  her  hand. 

"I  believe  you,  Mr.  Merriwell,"  she  declared.  "You 
have  a  face  that  is  all  truth  and  honesty.  If  I  had 
known  you  better,  I  could  not  have  thought  such  a 
thing  possible  of  you.  I  have  asked  a  certain  party  not 
to  have  anything  further  to  say  to  you,  in  order  that  no 
quarrel  might  arise  over  me," 


44  Another  Foe. 

"I  am  sure  I  know  the  person  to  whom  you  refer. 
I  did  meet  him  in  Morey's.  I  went  there  to  look  for 
him,  as  I  do  not  drink  myself.  I  told  him  that  I  had 
positive  proof  that  he  lied  when  he  said  I  insulted  a 
certain  person  and  that  person  said  so.  That  was  as 
near  as  your  name  came  to  being  mentioned,  Miss 
Lee." 

Frank  released  her  hand,  which  he  had  held  as  long 
as  he  dared.  He  saw  Evan  Hartwick,  his  face  dark 
as  a  stormcloud,  watching  them.  The  girl  saw  Hart- 
wick  and  she  passed  her  hand  through  Frank's  arm. 

"Yes,"  she  said,  "I  will  dance  the  lancers  with  you." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BEWITCHING     EYES. 

Evan  Hartwick  saw  Frank  walk  away  with  Wini- 
fred Lee  clinging  to  his  arm,  and  Hartwick's  heart 
was  filled  with  the  most  tumultuous  and  bitter  pas- 
sions. His  lips  were  white,  but  there  was  a  dark 
look  on  his  corrugated  brow  and  his  hands  were 
clinched. 

"This  is  more  than  I  can  stand !"  he  muttered.  "That 
infernal  fellow  has  crossed  my  path  once  too  often !  I 
must  fix  him  some  way — and  I  will !  But  how  ?" 

Hartwick  meditated.  A  wild  project  flashed  through 
his  brain,  but  there  seemed  no  possible  way  of  carry- 
ing it  into  execution. 

"Oh,  if  it  could  be  done !"  muttered  Hartwick,  strik- 
ing his  hands  together.  "That  would  shame  and  dis- 
grace Merriwell  more  than  anything  else  that  could 
befall  him." 

The  more  Evan  thought  of  his  scheme  the  greater 
became  his  longing  to  carry  it  into  execution.  He 
caught  a  glimpse  of  a  face  in  the  moving  throng  of 
smiling  men  and  lads  and  dazzling  women  and  girls. 

"There  is  one  who  would  give  me  a  helping  hand," 


46  Bewitching  Eyes. 

he  thought — "one  who  would  do  anything  for  me. 
By  Jove!  I  believe  it  can  be  done!  I'll  try  it!" 

A  few  moments  later  Hartwick  was  looking  for  a 
cab  outside.  He  found  one,  told  the  driver  to  take 
him  to  the  nearest  drug  store,  sprang  in,  and  was 
whirled  away. 

In  a  short  time  Hartwick  was  back  again,  mingling 
with  the  merry  throng  and  looking  for  the  one  who 
would  do  his  underhand  work. 

The  lancers  over,  Merriwell  chatted  with  Winifred 
till  another  partner  claimed  her ;  but  when  she  left  him 
he  had  made  her  promise  to  give  him  a  certain  waltz. 

Frank  was  more  than  charmed  with  the  beautiful 
girl.  He  had  found  her  intelligent,  bright  and  witty, 
as  well  as  pretty,  which  is  a  somewhat  rare  combi- 
nation in  a  girl  of  eighteen. 

They  had  arrived  at  a  very  good  understanding,  but 
she  had  insisted  that  he  should  not  seek  to  settle  with 
Hartwick  for  misrepresenting  him. 

It  was  not  an  easy  thing  for  Frank  to  give  such  a 
promise,  but  under  the  spell  of  Winifred's  witching 
eyes  he  could  be  led  to  do  almost  anything,  and  so  she 
exacted  the  pledge. 

"She  is  a  queen,  and  that's  right,"  thought  Frank, 
as  he  wandered  from  the  ballroom.  "It  has  been  a 


Bewitching  Eyes.  47 

long  time  since  I  have  seen  a  girl  who  could  be  com- 
pared with  her." 

"Hello!  hello!"  said  Halliday's  familiar  voice  in 
Frank's  ear.  "What  are  you  muttering  about,  my 
boy?" 

"Was  I  muttering?    I  was  not  aware  of  it." 

"Oh,  I  know!"  grinned  Halliday.  "I  saw  her! 
Why,  she  is  out  of  sight !  But  there  are  others.  Come 
with  me.  I  want  to  introduce  you  to  her  friend." 

"Her  friend?" 

"Yes.    Eunice  Darley." 

"Oh !  Miss  Darley.  The  one  who  was  with  her  the 
first  time  I  saw  her.  A  pretty  girl,  if  I  remember 
correctly.  I  don't  mind." 

Halliday  led  Frank  into  a  room  where  refreshments 
were  being  served.  Young  men,  ladies  and  girls  were 
sitting  about,  chatting  and  laughing,  while  they  ate 
ice  cream,  cake,  or  drank  of  a  certain  beverage  that 
was  pleasing  to  the  eye  and  seemed  agreeable  to  the 
taste. 

"What's  this— what's  this?"  muttered  Frank  in  Hal- 
liday's ear.  "What  are  they  drinking?  Looks  like 
Velvet.'  " 

"Oh,  it  is  punch,  so  mild  and  harmless  that  it  would 
not  harm  a  child.  I  know,  for  I  have  tried  it." 

"No  punch  in  mine,"  declared  Frank. 


48  Bewitching  Eyes. 

Halliday  led  Merriwell  over  to  a  table  where  Brown- 
ing was  sitting  with  two  girls.  The  girls  were  eating 
cream,  while  Browning  was  lazily  sipping  punch  and 
talking  to  them  in  a  drawling  but  not  unmusical  voice. 

"Mr.  Merriwell,"  said  Halliday,  "I  take  pleasure  in 
making  you  acquainted  with  Miss  Darley  and  Miss 
Stone." 

The  girls  bowed,  and  Eunice  Darley  gave  Frank  a 
wonderful  look  with  her  big  black  eyes.  She  had  full 
red  lips  and  a  rather  handsome  face.  Her  eyes,  how- 
ever, were  what  attracted  instant  attention,  and  she 
knew  how  to  use  them  in  a  manner  most  effective. 

Miss  Stone  was  small,  quiet  and  not  particualrly  at- 
tractive. 

"Sit  down,  Merriwell, "  invited  Browning.  "We 
have  been  speaking  of  you." 

"Of  me  ?     Well,  you  know  the  old  saying " 

"About  angels?"  smiled  Eunice  Darley. 

"Not  in  this  case,"  murmured  Bruce.  "That  say- 
ing applies  to  quite  another  fellow,  you  know." 

"Oh,  if  what  I  have  heard  of  Mr.  Merriwell  is  true, 
you  cannot  compare  him  with  the  'other  fellow/  ' 
laughed  Eunice. 

"Oh,  I  don't  know,"  said  Bruce.  "In  some  ways  he 
is  a  perfect  'other  fellow'  of  a  fellow." 


Bewitching  Eyes.  49 

Frank  sat  down,  and  Halliday  excused  himself, 
strolling  away. 

"Now,  I  don't  think  it  is  kind  of  Mr.  Browning  to 
make  you  out  as  bad  as  all  that,  Mr.  Merriwell,"  said 
Eunice,  with  pretended  seriousness.  "Why,  I  have 
even  heard  it  said  that  you  do  not  drink  anything — 
not  so  much  as  beer." 

"No,"  declared  Browning,  "he  takes  his  milk  re- 
duced and  has  to  have  his  water  sweetened.  Didn't  I 
say  he  is  a  perfect  'other  fellow'  of  a  fellow  ?" 

"But  he  can  play  baseball,"  said  Miss  Stone.  "I 
have  seen  him  play,  and  I  know." 

"Oh,  he  has  the  nerve  to  make  a  bluff  at  anything,'* 
nodded  Bruce.  "He  even  played  me  when  we  were  in 
different  classes.  He  took  all  the  ambition  out  of  me 
and  made  me  the  total  wreck  that  I  am.  I  wonder  if 
I  can  have  some  more  of  that  lemonade?  It  is  very 
soothing." 

"But  there  is  claret  or  something  in  it,  is  there  not  ?" 
said  Eunice. 

"Is  there?  Well,  if  you  hadn't  told  me  I'd  never 
suspected  it.  Won't  you  have  some,  girls?" 

"Are  you  sure  it  is  all  right?"  asked  Miss  Stone, 
timidly. 

"No,  it  isn't  all  right,"  replied  Bruce,  sadly.     "If 


5O  Bewitching  Eyes. 

they  had  put  something  stimulating  in  it,  it  would  have 
been.  However,  it  is  wet" 

"In  that  case,  we  will  all  try  it,"  smiled  Eunice 
Darley. 

"None  for  me,"  laughed  Frank.  "I  don't  care  for 
it." 

Eunice  turned  on  him  with  a  merry  laugh,  her  eyes 
full  of  subtle  allurements  and  reproaches. 

"Oh,  Mr.  Merriwell !  would  you  put  me  to  shame  in 
that  way?  I  know  you  will  not  refuse  to  drink  a 
single  glass  of  it  with  me.  I  am  certain  it  cannot 
harm  anybody,  else  Mrs.  Greydon  would  not  have  it 
here  for  us  to  drink.  It  is  simply  lemonade,  with 
something  in  it  to  color  it.  One  glass  with  me,  Mr. 
Merriwell." 

It  was  hard  to  refuse  her,  and  Frank  felt  the  blood 
rushing  to  his  cheeks.  Her  voice  was  enough  to  un- 
steady him,  but  her  eyes  really  seemed  to  possess  hyp- 
notic influence. 

"I  trust  you  will  not  be  offended,  Miss  Darley,"  he 
said,  as  firmly  as  he  could,  "but  I  have  made  a  vow 
never  to  touch  a  drop  of  liquor  in  any  form.  You 
would  not  have  me  break  that  vow,  I  am  sure — not  even 
to  please  you  ?" 

She  fell  back,  and  there  was  a  look  of  disappoint- 
ment on  her  face. 


Bewitching  Eyes.  51 

"A  fellow  must  be  foolish  to  make  such  a  vow,"  she 
declared,  with  a  toss  of  her  head. 

"I  do  not  know.  Miss  Darley,  you  do  not  under- 
stand the  circumstances.  If  you  did " 

"Oh,  well,  never  mind!  We  will  try  Mr.  Brown- 
ing's 'lemonade,'  and  you  shall  drink  with  us — in 
water.  Shall  we  order  it  sweetened  ?" 

Frank  was  touched,  but  he  held  himself  strongly  in 
check  and  answered: 

"I  will  drink  a  glass  of  water  with  you,  by  way  of 
keeping  you  company,  if  that  will  be  sufficient." 

"Oh,  that  will  do  very  well!"  laughed  the  dark- 
eyed  girl.  "But  you  must  be  careful  that  you  do  not 
get  intoxicated  on  it!" 

The  punch  was  brought  and  a  glass  of  water  was 
placed  before  Frank.  Eunice  suddenly  leaned  toward 
him,  her  eyes  looking  into  his  as  she  softly  said: 

"Will  you  forgive  me,  Mr.  Merriwell?" 

"Forgive  you — for  what?" 

"For  being  hateful.  Mr.  Browning  had  just  told 
us  you  would  not  touch  anything  in  which  you  knew 
there  was  a  drop  of  liquor,  and  I  thought  I  would  try 
to  induce  you  to  do  so.  I  failed  and  I  am  glad  of  it. 
I  admire  a  man  who  has  the  courage  to  keep  his  vows 
under  any  circumstances." 

More  than  ever  before  he  felt  the  influence  of  her 


52  Bewitching  Eyes. 

eyes.  He  had  never  seen  such  eyes  before  that,  and  the 
thought  flashed  through  his  mind  that  Eunice  Darley 
could  do  an  incredible  amount  of  harm  or  an  unlimited 
amount  of  good  with  those  eyes,  as  she  saw  fit. 

"Thank  you !"  he  murmured,  gratefully.  "I  did  not 
wish  to  offend  you  by  refusing,  but  I " 

"Do  not  say  anything  more  about  it.  I  think  I  un- 
derstand." 

Browning  was  chatting  with  Miss  Stone,  and  neither 
of  them  was  paying  much  attention  to  Frank  and  Eu- 
nice. Frank  felt  her  hand  touch  his  for  a  moment. 

"You  have  such  wonderful  eyes!"  he  murmured, 
despite  himself. 

"Do  you  think  so?"  she  smiled.  "A  little  while  ago 
you  seemed  to  find  something  attractive  in  Winnie 
Lee's  eyes." 

"Miss  Lee  is  a  most  charming  and  beautiful  girl." 

"Indeed  she  is,  and  she  is  my  dearest  friend.  I 
would  do  anything  for  her.  We  are  great  chums,  you 
know." 

"The  first  time  I  saw  you  you  were  together." 

"I  remember — the  day  you  returned  the  letter  to 
her  she  dropped.  Winnie  said  then  that  she  thought 
you  the  handsomest  fellow  she  had  ever  seen." 

"Really?" 

"Really  and  truly." 


Bewitching  Eyes.  53 

"I  am  not  going1  to  give  my  opinion  of  her.  I  fear 
it  would  be  so  complimentary  that  it  would  sound  soft 
from  the  lips  of  a  fellow  who  has  known  her  no  longer 
than  I  have." 

"Come,  come,  Merry/'  broke  in  the  lazy  voice  of 
Bruce  Browning,  "your  water  will  lose  its  head  if  you 
let  it  stand  longer.  And  you  will  lose  your  head  if  you 
do  not  stop  looking  into  Miss  Barley's  eyes  like  that," 
he  added. 

"A  toast,"  smiled  Eunice,  lifting  her  glass.  "Here's 
to  Mr.  Merriwell;  may  he  never  forget  his  vows. 
Drink!  drink!" 

Frank  drank  the  glass  of  water,  and  Hartwick's 
plot  had  been  carried  out  successfully. 


CHAPTER  V. 

DISASTER. 

"Mr.  Rattleton,  have  you  seen  anything  of  Mr.  Mer- 
riwell?  I  promised  him  this  waltz  and  I  haven't  seen 
him  since.** 

"Come  with  me,  Miss  Lee,"  said  Harry,  who  had 
succeeded  in  obtaining  an  introduction  to  Winifred, 
"and  we  will  look  for  him." 

They  found  Frank  in  the  room  where  refreshments 
had  been  served.  The  room  was  almost  deserted,  and 
Merriwell  was  resting  his  head  on  his  arms,  which 
were  laying  on  a  table.  Before  him  were  several 
glasses,  a  little  punch  in  the  bottom  of  each. 

Harry  did  not  realize  the  situation  until  they  were 
close  upon  Frank,  and  then  he  tried  to  turn  about  the 
girl  and  get  out  of  the  room,  saying: 

"He  is  not  here." 

"Oh,  yes,  he  is!"  said  Winifred.  "He  is  there  at 
that  table.  What  can  be  the  matter  ?  Why — is  it — is 
it  possible?  I — I  thought  Mr.  Merriwell  never  drank!" 

She  was  shocked,  and  there  was  something  like  a 
blow  in  her  voice. 

"Oh,  he  has  not  been  drinking — I  am  ced  durtain — I 


Disaster.  55 

mean  dead  certain  of  that!"  spluttered  Harry  as  he 
grasped  Frank's  shoulder  and  gave  him  a  shake. 
"Come,  old  man,  what  are  you  doing  here?*' 

Merriwell  made  no  move,  and  Harry  gave  him  an- 
other shake. 

"What's  the  matter,  old  man?"  cried  Rattleton  in  a 
flutter  of  consternation.  "Are  you  ill  ?" 

He  gave  Frank  such  a  shaking  that  Merriwell  lifted 
his  head  slowly,  stared  in  a  stupid  manner,  and  mum- 
bled something. 

"Yes,"  said  Winifred,  cuttingly,  "it  is  evident  that 
he  is  very  ill.  His  condition  shows  that." 

"I  am  positive  he  has  not  dropped  a  drink — I  mean 
dinked  a  drip — er,  no,  dripped  a  drunk!"  said  Harry, 
getting  sadly  mixed  in  his  haste  to  defend  his  friend. 

"He  may  not  have  drank  a  drop,"  said  the  girl,  "but 
it  is  plain  that  he  has  taken  several  drops.  What  a 
spectacle !" 

Then  she  turned  and  swept  away.  Merriwell  seemed 
to  see  her  departing,  and  he  made  a  desperate  attempt 
to  say  somthing,  but  his  words  were  incoherent. 

"Oh,  Lord!  oh,  Lord!"  gasped  Harry.  "He  has 
done  it  this  time,  and  that  is  sure !  This  is  terrible !  I 
must  get  him  out  of  here  some  way.  It  is  almost  cer- 
tain to  produce  a  dreadful  scandal.  It  may  mean  a 
long  vacation  for  Merry." 


56  Disaster. 

Even  Rattleton  believed  that  Frank  had  been  indul- 
ging in  punch  until  he  was  intoxicated. 

"Oh,  you're  a  dandy !"  he  hissed  in  Frank's  ear.  "Is 
this  the  sort  of  a  place  you  select  to  get  loaded  ?  For 
Heaven's  sake,  get  a  brace  on!  I  must  drag  you  out 
some  way.  We  can't  go  out  by  the  front  door." 

"Doctor!"  said  Frank,  thickly — "want  a  doctor." 

"Well,  you  shall  have  one  when  I  get  you  to  our 
rooms.  Here,  Griswold!"  he  called  as  he  caught  a 
glimpse  of  Danny,  "for  the  good  of  loveness — I  mean 
the  love  of  goodness,  come  here  and  give  me  a  hand !" 

Griswold  came  in  and  whistled  his  astonishment 
when  he  saw  Frank. 

"Jee  whiskers !"  he  exclaimed. '  "It's  Merry — and 
loaded!  Why,  I  never  heard  of  such  a  thing  before!" 

"Nobody  else!"  grated  Rattleton.  "Get  hold  of  that 
side — quick!  I  think  I  know  where  the  back  door  is. 
We  must  take  him  out  that  way,  if  we  have  to  scale  a 
fence  to  escape  from  the  yard !  Now  brace  up,  Merri- 
well — come!  Oh,  say,  old  fellow,  why  don't  you 
do  it?" 

Griswold  took  hold,  and  Rattleton  shook  Frank  till 
the  overcome  lad  made  an  effort  to  get  on  his  feet. 
They  almost  carried  him  from  the  room.  Of  course 
it  was  quite  impossible  to  entirely  escape  notice.  Not 
a  few  people  stared  at  them  and  some  remarks  were 


Disaster.  57 

made.  Harry  blushed  with  shame  over  his  friend's 
disgrace.  In  truth  it  was  awful. 

After  some  trouble  they  found  the  back  door  and 
got  Frank  outside.  The  air  seemed  to  revive  him  in  a 
measure,  and  they  found  a  gate  that  led  them  out  of 
the  yard.  In  time  they  passed  through  to  the  street 
that  lay  behind  the  house. 

"Merry'll  never  get  over  this!"  Rattleton  almost 
sobbed.  "I  don't  understand  it — don't  see  how  it  was 
possible!  I  tasted  of  that  punch,  and  it  would  take  a 
barrel  of  it  to  get  a  baby  full.  He  must  have  had 
something  besides  punch." 

"No  punch !"  mumbled  Merriwell.  "Water — nothin* 
else." 

"This  is  the  first  time  I  ever  knew  a  fellow  to  get 
loaded  on  water,"  said  Gr  is  wold.  "Never  supposed 
it  was  intoxicating." 

"Not  'toxicated/'  declared  Frank,  with  an  effort  to 
brace  up. 

"Then  what  is  the  matter  with  you?" 

"Dunno.     Sleepy — no  strength — played  out." 

"You  don't  suppose  he  has  had  some  kind  of  a  fit, 
do  you  ?"  eagerly  asked  Rattleton,  catching  at  the  hope 
as  a  drowning  man  catches  at  a  straw. 

"Naw !"  replied  Griswold.  "Fellows  like  him  never 
have  fits." 


58  Disaster. 

Danny  took  charge  of  Frank  while  Harry  went  for  a 
cab.  When  the  cab  arrived  Frank  was  bundled  in, 
and  away  they  went  for  South  Middle.  Harry  let 
down  both  windows,  and  the  cool  night  air  brought 
Frank  around  still  more. 

They  did  not  have  much  trouble  in  getting  Merriwell 
up  to  his  rooms,  and  by  that  time  he  was  begging  them 
to  go  for  a  physician. 

"I've  been  poisoned !"  he  finally  declared.  "I  know 
it!" 

That  startled  Rattleton.  Danny  promised  to  remain 
with  Frank  and  Harry  rushed  away  for  a  physician. 
The  doctor  came  after  a  while,  and  as  Harry  had  de- 
clared that  his  friend  might  be  poisoned,  he  brought  a 
stomach  pump. 

The  contents  of  Merriwell's  stomach  were  pumped 
up,  and  then  the  physician  gave  him  some  medicine. 
Frank  remained  in  a  semi-stupor  and  soon  fell  asleep. 

"I  can't  quite  make  out  what  is  the  matter  with 
him,"  confessed  the  doctor,  "but  it  is  certain  that  he 
was  not  intoxicated." 

"Hurrah!"  cried  Rattleton,  delightedly.  "That  is 
a  relief!  But  is  he  in  danger,  doctor?" 

"I  hardly  think  so,  but  it  will  be  a  good  plan  to  keep 
him  moving  for  a  while.  Walk  him  up  and  down  the 


Disaster.  59 

room  till  he  appears  brighter.  It  may  be  that  some- 
thing he  ate  was  the  cause  of  this." 

"Can  you  settle  the  point,  doctor  ?" 

"By  an  analysis,  yes," 

"Then  make  it.  You  shall  be  well  paid  for  it,  I 
promise  you.  His  honor  depends  upon  it  Why,  he 
was  taken  this  way  at  a  swell  party,  and  everybody  who 
saw  him  believed  him  drunk.  It  may  mean  expulsion 
from  college  for  him  if  it  cannot  be  proven  that  he  was 
not  intoxicated." 

The  physician  promised  to  make  a  full  analysis,  told 
the  boys  how  to  treat  Frank,  asked  them  to  call  him 
again  if  the  patient  showed  any  alarming  symptoms, 
and  then  departed. 

Rattleton  and  Griswold  walked  Frank  up  and  down 
the  room  till  the  unfortunate  lad  showed  signs  of 
coming  around  all  right  and  was  so  that  he  could  get 
along  with  the  assistance  of  one.  Then  Griswold  has- 
tened back  to  the  party  to  get  their  overcoats  and  hats, 
for  they  had  not  waited  to  obtain  them  before  leaving. 

Merriwell  did  not  seem  to  feel  like  talking.  There 
was  a  pained  expression  on  his  face,  and  he  seemed  try- 
ing to  think.  Rattleton  kept  asking  him  how  he  felt, 
and  he  answered  with  a  single  word : 

"Better." 

Harry  tried  to  question  him  about  the  affair,  but 


60     ,  Disaster. 

Frank  put  his  hand  to  his  head  and  looked  bewildered, 
so  Rattleton  decided  to  drop  it  till  morning. 

After  Harry  had  aided  Frank  to  remove  his  clothes 
and  had  helped  him  into  bed,  he  sat  down  and  waited 
till  Griswold  returned. 

Frank  was  sleeping  when  Danny  came  in. 

"Well,  I  suppose  everybody  is  onto  this  wretched 
business?"  said  Harry,  impatiently. 

"Oh,  I  don't  know,"  answered  Danny.  "A  few  of 
the  fellows  seem  to  know  of  it,  but  I'm  inclined  to 
think  we  got  him  out  so  quick  that  it  was  not  generally 
known.  Of  course  I  had  to  make  excuses,  and  I  did 
the  best  I  could.  Halliday  came  and  asked  me  if  it  was 
true  that  Merrrwell  was  drunk,  and  I  told  him  no." 

"It's  a  blooming  shame!"  declared  Harry,  "and  I 
don't  understand  it  at  all.  You  know,  as  well  as  I, 
what  Merry's  reputation  and  record  are." 

"What  does  he  say  about  it  ?" 

"Nothing  yet.  I'll  find  out  in  the  morning  what 
he  has  to  say." 

Frank  was  sleeping.  Nearly  all  the  night  Rattleton 
sat  beside  the  bed  and  watched  over  his  friend.  He 
did  not  lie  down  till  he  felt  certain  that  Frank  was  in 
no  further  danger. 

In  the  morning  Frank  was  so  ill  that  he  could  not 


Disaster.  61 

get  out  of  bed.  He  tried  it,  but  his  head  swam  and  he 
gave  it  up. 

"What  happened  last  night,  Harry  ?"  he  asked,  dole- 
fully. "I  feel  as  if  I  had  been  on  a  tear." 

"I  want  to  know  what  happened  myself,"  said  Rat- 
tleton.  "We  went  to  a  party,  and " 

"How  did  we  get  home?" 

"Griswold  and  I  brought  you  home  in  a  cab." 

"A  cab?  Brought  me  home?  I  remember  some- 
thing about  it.  I  remember  seeing  her  looking  at  me. 
Oh,  there  was  such  shame  and  horror  in  her  face!  I 
tried  to  tell  her  something,  but  my  tongue  would  not 
let  me  speak.  Say,  Harry,  is  it  all  a  horrible  dream?" 

"Not  much!  It  is  a  horrible  reality.  Now  I  want 
you  to  explain  it.  I  found  you  in  the  room  where  the 
punch  was  served,  and  you  seemed  to  be  loaded.  There 
were  one  or  two  servants  in  the  place,  and  you  were 
lying  on  the  table." 

Frank  put  his  hand  to  his  head. 

"I  was  with  Browning,  Miss  Stone  and  Miss  Dar- 
ley,"  muttered  Frank.  "Halliday  took  me  down  to  in- 
troduce me  to  Miss  Darley.  She  had  such  bewildering 
eyes.  She  asked  me  to  drink  and  I  declined.  They 
drank,  but  I  took  nothing  but  water." 

"I'd  like  to  know  where  they  found  that  water  1" 
exploded  Harry. 


62  Disaster. 

"I  give  you  my  word  that  I  took  nothing  else," 
came  earnestly  from  Frank.  "After  that  we  sat  there 
and  talked  a  few  moments.  Then  Miss  Darley  urged 
us  all  to  go  somewhere  with  her — I  do  not  remember 
just  where.  I  was  feeling  stupid  and  I  begged  to  be 
excused.  They  went  off  and  left  me,  and  after  that 
everything  seems  mixed." 

Harry  took  a  turn  up  and  down  the  room. 

"I  am  more  than  ever  inclined  to  think  there  was 
something  crooked  about  the  affair!"  he  cried.  "Do 
you  remember  that  there  was  a  physician  here  to  see 
you  last  night?" 

"I  seem  to  remember  something  about  it." 

"I  want  to  know  what  he  has  to  say  to-day.  You 
stay  right  in  bed.  I'll  send  him  around.  Hang 
chapel!  I  believe  I  smell  blood!  If  there  has  been 
monkey  business  with  you " 

"But  who  would  try  it?    Surely  not  Browning?*' 

"I  don't  know." 

"Oh,  I  will  not  think  it  was  Browning!" 

"Well,  we'll  try  to  find  out  who  it  was.  Heavens! 
just  think  of  it,  Frank!  It  begins  to  look  as  if  you 
were  poisoned !  There  goes  the  chapel  bell !  I'm  off !" 

Harry  dashed  out  of  the  room. 


CHAPTER  VL 

MERRIWELI/S  MISFORTUNE. 

Of  course  the  story  could  not  be  suppressed;  but 
Harry  Rattleton  was  not  idle,  and  the  doctor's  certi- 
ficate of  illness  plainly  stated  that  Merriwell  had  been 
overcome  by  a  certain  drug.  How  that  drug  happened 
to  be  in  Frank's  stomach  was  a  mystery. 

Frank  did  not  escape  being  compelled  to  tell  his 
story  to  certain  of  the  faculty.  He  was  questioned 
closely,  but  he  insisted  that  he  had  not  even  touched 
liquor  in  any  form  to  his  lips,  and  he  did  not  waver 
in  his  statement  The  physician's  certificate  did  not 
seem  sufficient  to  entirely  satisfy  them,  for  it  was  cer- 
tainly most  remarkable  that  a  student  should  be 
drugged  under  such  circumstances  and  be  quite  unable 
to  tell  who  did  it. 

Merriwell  was  informed  that  his  previous  good  char- 
acter had  much  to  do  with  the  fact  that  he  was  let  off 
with  a  warning,  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  his  statement,  to  which  he  was  ready  to  swear, 
was  regarded  with  grave  doubts. 

In  short,  for  all  of  anything  Rattleton  had  done, 


64  Merriwell's  Misfortune. 

for  all  of  Frank's  word,  for  all  of  the  physician's  cer- 
tificate, Merriwell  remained  under  a  cloud. 

"I  will  know  the  truth  about  the  matter  some  day," 
he  declared  over  and  over.  "Halliday  took  me  down 
to  meet  Miss  Darley;  Browning  sat  at  the  table  with 
us ;  Halliday  is  jealous  of  me  because  we  are  rivals  for 
a  place  on  the  eleven,  and  Browning  was  once  my  open 
foe.  Still  I  am  not  willing  to  believe  either  of  them 
concerned  in  a  plot  to  knock  me  out  in  such  a  cowardly 
manner. 

"It  seems  that  after  Browning  and  the  girls  left  me 
I  heard  the  voices  of  two  other  persons  who  came  to 
the  table  where  I  was.  It  is  like  a  dream,  but  still  I 
am  almost  certain  I  did  hear  such  voices.  One  said 
something  about  Merriwell  being  done  for  this  time, 
and  the  other  laughed.  Who  were  they?  I  would 
give  a  good  round  sum  to  know. 

"I'll  not  drop  this  matter.  I  do  not  propose  to  re- 
main under  the  shadow  of  suspicion.  I  had  rather  a 
man  would  shoot  me  or  stab  me  openly  than  strike  me 
such  a  dastardly  blow  in  the  dark !  I  have  no  chance 
to  defend  myself.  I  know  beyond  a  doubt  that  I  have 
the  most  bitter  enemies  here  at  Yale.  Ditson  is  one 
"of  them,  but  although  he  was  there  that  night  he  had 
no  opportunity  to  drug  me.  Well,  the  truth  must  come 
out  some  time." 


Merri well's  Misfortune.  65 

Frank  kept  silent  and  attended  to  his  studies  and  his 
football  practice.  He  seemed  determined  to  keep  up  in 
recitations  and  still  make  the  eleven. 

He  remembered  that  he  had  promised  to  waltz  with 
Winifred  Lee,  and  he  wondered  what  she  had  thought 
of  him  when  she  heard  the  story  about  him,  as  she  must 
have  heard  it. 

One  day  he  spoke  of  this  to  Harry,  and  something 
about  Rattleton's  face  caused  Frank  to  ask  questions. 

"Oh,  I  may  as  well  tell  you,"  said  Rattleton.  "She 
saw  you." 

"Saw  me?" 

"Yes." 

"When?" 

"When  you  were  sprawled  out  on  that  table,  appar- 
ently loaded  for  big  game." 

Frank  groaned. 

"How  did  that  happen  ?"  he  asked. 

"Well,  she  could  see  nothing  of  you  when  the  waltz 
came  around.  It  is  plain  enough  that  she  had  set  her 
mind  on  waltzing  with  you,  for  she  asked  me  where 
you  were.  I  offered  to  take  her  to  you,  and  I  did " 

"Hey?  What's  that?  You  took  her  into  the  room 
where  I  was  spraddled  out  on  that  table?" 

"I  had  that  pleasure." 

Frank  grabbed  Harry  by  the  throat 


66  Merriwell's  Misfortune. 

"Confound  you!"  he  cried.  "Were  you  leagued 
against  me  also?" 

"Take  your  neck  off  my  hands — I  mean  your  hands 
off  my  neck !  I  didn't  know  what  condition  you  were 
in.  I  looked  into  that  room  a  short  time  before,  and 
you  were  chatting  with  Eunice  Darley.  You  were  all 
right  then." 

Frank  placed  both  his  hands  to  his  head. 

"Suffering  goodness  f  he  murmured.  "To  think 
that  she  should  see  me !  What  must  she  think  of  me !" 

He  soon  found  out,  for  he  met  Winifred  on  the 
street.  This  time  she  was  with  Eunice  Darley,  as  she 
had  been  on  the  occasion  of  their  first  meeting.  It  was 
too  late  to  avoid  them  when  Merriwell  observed  them, 
and  so  he  was  forced  to  go  forward  boldly.  He  felt 
the  hot  blood  rising  to  his  face  despite  himself. 

Frank  lifted  his  hat.  The  girls  looked  straight  at 
him  for  a  single  instant  and  then  coldly  turned  away. 

Merriwell  felt  his  heart  give  a  great  leap,  and  then 
it  seemed  to  stop  beating  for  several  moments.  The 
flush  left  his  face  and  he  was  deathly  pale. 

"So  they,  too,  think  that  I  was  drunk!"  he  mut- 
tered, bitterly.  "I  swear  this  is  pretty  hard  to  bear!" 

For  the  remainder  of  the  day  he  was  in  a  most 
wretched  condition.  Before  he  slept  he  wrote  a  letter 
of  explanation  to  Winifred,  in  which  he  told  her  the 


Merriweli's  Misfortune.  67 

simple  truth,  declared  he  would  prove  it  some  day,  and 
entreated  her  to  believe  him. 

That  letter  was  not  answered. 

To  a  young  man  of  Merriweli's  proud  and  sensitive 
disposition  the  position  was  intensely  humiliating. 
However,  he  bore  up  under  it  as  best  he  could ;  but  his 
companions  saw  a  great  change  in  him. 

The  weeks  went  on  and  he  successfully  made  the 
eleven.  He  was  given  the  position  of  right  half-back, 
and  played  it  so  well  that  his  work  was  a  feature  in  the 
minor  games. 

Hartwick  failed  entirely  and  Halliday  was  retained 
as  substitute. 

Princeton's  work  against  other  teams  was  watched 
with  the  greatest  interest.  Early  in  the  season  she 
seemed  weak,  for  she  scored  but  one  against  the  Car- 
lisle Indians,  and  the  Newton  Athletic  Association  gave 
her  a  hot  game. 

But  the  aspect  of  all  this  changed  somewhat  when 
Yale  went  against  the  Indians  and  found  them  royal 
opponents.  Only  by  the  fiercest  work  did  Yale  hold 
the  bucks  down  and  finally  win  the  game. 

Newton  Athletic  Association  did  not  play  Yale,  so 
there  was  no  opportunity  to  judge  Yale's  strength  by 
comparison  in  that  case. 

One  of  Yale's  coaches  came  out  in  a  statement  in  a 


68  Merri well's  Misfortune. 

New  York  paper,  however,  and  confessed  that  the  team 
was  disappointing  in  many  ways.  He  also  hinted  that 
Princeton  was  strong  in  kicking  and  could  go  through 
and  stop  kicks  in  a  manner  that  made  them  specially 
dangerous.  The  coming  battle  on  Manhattan  Field 
was  sure  to  be  a  royal  struggle. 

Dartmouth  came  down  from  the  granite  hills,  and 
she  gave  Yale  a  hot  go  during  the  first  half.  The 
Dartmouth  lads  were  full  of  sand,  and  being  mostly 
the  sons  of  farmers  and  country  gentlemen,  they  were 
a  big,  sturdy  set,  every  man  ready  to  die  game. 

In  the  second  half  Yale  took  a  brace  and  won  by 
stiff,  snappy  play  that  was  decidedly  encouraging  to 
her  admirers.  Then  Yale's  stock  went  up  again. 

Although  Merri  well  showed  himself  capable  of  good 
work,  he  was  scarcely  mentioned  in  any  of  the  news- 
paper reports.  It  almost  seemed  as  if  he  was  delib- 
erately overlooked,  and  this  was  not  easy,  considering 
his  position.  When  it  was  necessary  to  mention  him 
his  work  was  said  to  be  fairly  satisfactory,  but  not 
up  to  that  of  the  man  who  had  played  the  same  position 
on  the  Yale  team  the  previous  year. 

Old  Man  Hickson,  however,  took  it  on  himself  to 
say  a  kindly  word  to  Frank,  for  all  that  he  was  some- 
times harshly  critical. 

In  the  Dartmouth  game  Frank  saw  Winifred  Lee 


Merri well's  Misfortune.  69 

among  the  spectators.  A  glimpse  of  her  face  was 
enough  to  nerve  him  to  play  for  all  there  was  in  him, 
but  he  was  not  given  any  special  opportunity  to  dis- 
tinguish himself  from  the  other  players. 

Then  came  the  report  that  Frank  was  to  be  dropped 
from  the  team.  How  it  started  no  one  seemed  able 
to  say,  but  it  was  widely  circulated,  and  it  aroused  hun- 
dreds of  heated  discussions  as  to  Merriwell's  merits. 

If  Frank  was  annoyed  he  did  not  show  it.  If  he 
wondered  as  to  the  truth  of  the  report  he  did  not  show 
it.  He  kept  his  mouth  shut  and  went  on  with  his  work 
as  if  he  had  heard  nothing. 

But  he  was  not  dropped. 

October  slipped  away  and  the  time  of  the  great  game 
in  New  York  drew  near.  Still  the  eleven  that  would 
represent  Yale  had  not  been  definitely  settled  upon. 
New  men  were  being  tried  and  changes  were  made. 

Again  one  of  the  coaches  wrote  an  article  for  a  New 
York  Sunday  paper,  in  which  he  confessed  that  the 
situation  was  complicated  and  most  unsatisfactory. 
He  pointed  out  Yale's  weak  points.  This  time  Merri- 
well  was  mentioned.  While  he  was  not  regarded  as 
weak,  the  coach  claimed  that  there  had  been  better 
half-backs  at  Yale. 

That  was  enough  to  arouse  Frank  thoroughly.     If 


7o  Merriwell's  Misfortune. 

there  had  been  better  men  in  the  past  he  would,  at  least, 
do  his  level  best. 

Then  he  was  injured  in  one  of  the  minor  games. 
His  left  knee  was  hurt  so  he  could  not  run,  and  the 
doctor  said  he  might  not  recover  entirely  for  many 
weeks. 

Frank  was  in  despair.  Was  it  possible  that  after  all 
his  work  he  was  going  to  be  deprived  of  the  oppor- 
tunity of  playing  against  Princeton? 

Halliday  was  tried  in  his  place  and  then  was  taken 
out  and  placed  in  the  line.  It  seemed  that  this  shifting 
about  of  the  team  must  mean  that  Merriwell  was  out 
of  it  for  good.  Frank  longed  to  ask  Old  Man  Hick- 
son  some  questions,  but  Hickson  was  peculiar  and  he 
refrained.  With  the  aid  of  a  crutch  at  first  he  hobbled 
about.  Then  he  discarded  the  crutch  and  got  about 
with  a  cane. 

Never  was  a  sick  child  cared  for  more  tenderly  than 
that  knee.  Hot  water  was  used  upon  it  several  times  a 
day.  It  was  bathed  with  liniments  and  carefully  ban- 
daged. The  doctor  did  not  believe  in  letting  it  re- 
main perfectly  idle,  as  he  said  it  might  stiffen  up  some- 
what, and  he  believed  moderate  exercise  was  better 
than  absolute  rest. 

Harry  sympathized  with  Frank  and  did  his  best  to 
encourage  him  by  saying  he  was  certain  to  be  in  con- 


Merriwell's  Misfortune.  71 

dition  to  play  against  Princeton.  At  the  time  Rat- 
tleton  was  saying  so  he  doubted  it  very  much.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  the  new  arrangement  of  the  team 
would  shut  Frank  out,  even  if  the  knee  did  get  into 
fairly  good  condition. 

There  were  those  who  secretly  rejoiced  at  Merri- 
well's misfortune.  It  seemed  that  hard  luck  had  struck 
him  full  and  fair  at  last. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

WHAT    EUNICE    SAID. 

"Say,  old  man/'  said  Rattleton  to  Merriwell  one 
day,  "that  fellow  Hartwick  is  playing  some  sort  ol  a 
queer  game." 

"How  do  you  mean?"  asked  Frank,  curiously. 

"Why,  I  can't  tell  whether  he  is  stuck  on  Winifred 
Lee  or  Eunice  Darley.  He  has  them 'both  on  the 
string." 

"The  chances  are  he  is  looking  after  Miss  Lee." 

"Well,  I  am  not  so  sure,  for  he  has  taken  Eunice 
Darley  out  driving.  I  notice,  however,  that  he  pays 
his  attentions  to  Miss  Lee  in  the  daytime,  while  Miss 
Darley  went  driving  with  him  in  the  evening." 

"It  can't  be  that  he  has  them  both  on  the  string, 
for  they  are  firm  friends,  and  he  would  queer  himself." 

"He  is  slicker  than  you  think,  old  fellow.  I  have  an 
idea  that  he  is  mashed  on  Miss  Lee  and  Miss  Darley 
is  mashed  on  him." 

"Well,  it  makes  no  difference  to  me.  Neither  of 
them  recognizes  me  now,  so  Hartwick  may  have  them 
both." 


What  Eunice  Said.  73 

"Oh,  I  don't  know !  There  are  others  besides  Hart- 
wick." 

"Not  you?" 

"Well,  I  wouldn't  mind  having-  Eunice  for  my  queen. 
She  is  a  star  of  the  first  magnitude,,  Merry!  Those 
eyes !  My  boy,  there  are  not  two  more  eyes  like  those 
in  the  whole  wide  world !" 

"Whew!"  whistled  Frank.  "I  had  no  idea  you 
were  hit  in  this  way.  I  will  confess  that  she  has  won- 
derful eyes.  Why  don't  you  make  a  brace  for  her  and 
cut  Hartwick  out  ?" 

"Oh,  I  don't  know  why  I  don't!     I  am  slow." 

This  was  a  revelation  for  Frank,  as  Harry  had  never 
seemed  to  care  much  for  girls.  Knowing  Harry  as  he 
did,  he  wondered  if  Eunice  Barley  would  not  drop 
Hartwick  for  Rattleton  in  case  she  understood  the  lat- 
ter's  regard  for  her. 

Frank's  knee  became  so  that  he  did  not  absolutely 
need  the  cane  which  he  carried,  but  he  still  clung  to  it. 

One  evening  as  he  was  returning  to  South  Middle, 
having  been  out  to  make  a  call,  he  observed  a  fellow 
and  a  girl  on  a  corner.  The  girl  was  clinging  to  the 
fellow,  who  rudely  tried  to  shake  her  off. 

"Oh,  quit  this  foolishness!"  said  a  hoarse  voice — a 
voice  that  sounded  familiar  to  Frank.  "I  am  tired 
of  it!" 


74  What  Eunice  Said. 

The  girl  said  something  in  a  low,  agitated  tone,  and 
the  fellow  brushed  her  away. 

"You  want  to  quit  now !"  he  growled.  "I  am  tired 
of  you!" 

Of  the  girl's  retort  Frank  caught  but  two  words — 
"tell  everything." 

A  fierce  exclamation  broke  from  the  lips  of  the  fel- 
low, and  he  whirled  on  the  girl  in  a  threatening  atti- 
tude. 

That  was  enough  for  Frank.  With  natural  chivalry 
he  sprang  forward,  crying : 

"Don't  touch  that  lady!" 

In  a  moment  the  girl  drew  a  veil  over  her  face,  and 
the  fellow  wheeled  about  to  face  Frank,  uttering  a 
snarl  of  anger. 

"What  business  is  it  to  you?"  the  stranger  cried. 
"Get  out  or  I  will  punch  your  face !" 

"I  wish  you  would  try  it,"  shot  back  Merriwell. 
"Nothing  would  suit  me  better — nothing  in  the  world." 

"Then— you  get  it !" 

The  stranger  struck  straight  and  hard  at  Frank, 
who  ducked  to  the  right,  dropped  his  cane,  and  hit  the 
unknown  on  the  jaw  with  his  left. 

It  was  a  pretty  knockdown  blow. 

Frank  turned  about  to  offer  his  protection  to  the 
girl,  and  was  surprised  to  see  she  had  slipped  away  and 


What  Eunice  Said.  75 

vanished  in  the  darkness.  He  stood  looking  for  her 
a  moment,  and  then,  hearing  a  movement  behind  'him, 
faced  about. 

Crack !  Frank's  own  cane  struck  him  a  heavy  blow 
on  the  head,  and  he  was  felled  to  the  ground,  where  he 
lay,  stunned. 

"It's  Merriwell !"  grated  a  fierce  voice  as  the  stranger 
bent  over  him.  "I  hope  I  have  cracked  his  head !" 

Then  he  dropped  the  cane  and  made  off. 

Frank  recovered  in  a  few  minutes  and  sat  up.  His 
head  was  ringing,  and  he  found  there  was  a  large  swell- 
ing upon  it,  but  his  soft  hat  had  kept  the  cane  from 
cutting  his  scalp. 

"Well,"  muttered  Merriwell  when  he  had  collected 
his  thoughts,  "I  deserved  that!  I  should  have  been 
watching  the  fellow  all  the  while." 

He  found  his  cane  and  hat  near  at  hand,  picked  them 
up,  got  upon  his  feet  and  walked  slowly  toward  his 
rooms. 

"If  I  am  not  greatly  mistaken,"  he  said,  "I  recog- 
nized the  voice  of  that  fine  gentleman.  I  believe  it 
was  my  very  dear  friend,  Evan  Hartwick !" 

Frank  wondered  who  the  girl  could  have  been  and 
why  she  fled  so  quickly.  He  had  not  obtained  a  view 
of  her  face,  and  she  had  been  so  choked  with  emotion 
that  she  had  not  spoken  in  her  natural  tone  of  voice. 


j6  What  Eunice  Said. 

That  night  Frank  slept  with  a  wet  towel  bound  upon 
the  place  where  he  had  been  struck  by  his  own  cane. 

On  the  following  day  he  met  Eunice  Darley  as  she 
was  coming  from  the  post  office.  To  his  amazement 
she  stopped  and  spoke  to  him. 

"I  am  so  glad  to  see  you !"  she  smiled,  offering  her 
hand  and  looking  into  his  eyes  with  those  wonderful 
orbs  which  he  knew  the  power  of  so  well. 

Frank  accepted  her  hand,  and  he  noticed  that  she 
gave  his  fingers  a  gentle  pressure,  still  smiling  up  at 
him  with  her  eyes. 

"I  saw  the  game  with  Dartmouth/'  Eunice  declared. 
"Oh,  it  was  grand!  And  how  magnificently  you 
played !  How  you  swept  them  down  and  trampled  on 
them !  It  made  me  long  to  be  a  man  and  go  to  Yale. 
If  I  were  a  man  I  would  play  football." 

"But  you  know  it  is  a  brutal  game,"  murmured 
Frank,  with  pretended  seriousness. 

"I  know  there  are  lots  of  old  fogy  men  and  out-of- 
date  women  who  are  continually  crying  out  about  its 
being  brutal ;  but  they  are  away  behind  the  times,  that's 
all." 

Frank  smiled  at  her  enthusiasm. 

"I  really  believe  you  would  like  to  play  football,"  he 
said. 


What  Eunice  Said.  77 

"Of  coarse  I  would !  I'd  like  to  beat  them  down — 
to  run  over  them !  What  sport  is  must  be !" 

"Why,  she  is  a  perfect  little  tigress!"  thought  Mer- 
riwell.  "See  the  color  in  her  cheeks!  See  her  eyes 
gleam  and  her  teeth  glisten !  She  would  delight  in  de- 
stroying." 

"I  am  going  to  New  York  to  see  the  game  with 
Princeton,"  said  Eunice.  "They  say  it  will  be  a  fright- 
ful struggle.  I  hope  so.  You  will  not  play,  I  sup- 
pose, since  you  hurt  your  knee?" 

"I  hope  to,  but  I  am  afraid  I  shall  not." 

"I  am  so  sorry  about  that!  It  seemed  to  me  as  if 
you  were  half  the  team.  And  your  knee — how  is  it?** 

"Better — much  better." 

"But  it  will  not  be  well  enough  for  you  to  play?" 

"I  think  it  will." 

"Then  you  will  play?"  she  eagerly  cried,  as  if  de- 
lighted. 

"I  am  afraid  not." 

A  cloud  of  disappointment  dropped  upon  her  face. 

"How  is  that?" 

"Well,  since  I  have  been  laid  off,  my  place  has  been 
given  to  Driscoll,  and  he  is  doing  very  well.  The  team 
is  getting  so  it  works  together  nicely,  and  it  is  not 
likely  Driscoll  will  be  taken  out  at  the  last  moment  just 
to  give  me  a  show." 


78  What  Eunice  Said. 

"It's  too  bad!"  pouted  Eunice,  and  her  eyes  seemed 
to  say  that  she  really  meant  it.  "You  know  I  did  not 
like  you  so  very  well  after — after — well,  till  I  saw  you 
play  in  that  game  with  Dartmouth.  Then  the  way 
you  smashed  them  right  and  left — the  way  you  carried 
almost  the  whole  Dartmouth  crowd  on  your  back  and 
still  went  ahead,  that  changed  me  all  about  and  made 
me  like  you  very,  very  much.  You  were  so  brave — 
so  desperate!  Nothing  seemed  able  to  stop  you  at 
times." 

Frank  smiled. 

"Well,  I  am  glad  something  has  led  you  to  like  me," 
he  declared. 

"Do  you  really  care?"  she  softly  asked,  and  her  eyes 
drooped. 

"Of  course  I  care!  You  know  very  well  the  false 
position  in  which  I  was  placed.  It  is  possible  you  still 
believe  I  was  intoxicated  at  Mrs.  Greydon's " 

"I  knew  you  were  not!"  she  swiftly  declared. 

"You  knew  it?" 

"Yes." 

"How  is  that?" 

Eunice  betrayed  confusion. 

"I  can't  tell  you  now,"  she  fluttered.  "Sometime  I 
may." 

Frank  was  startled  and  aroused.     Was  it  possible 


What  Eunice  Said.  79 

this  girl  knew  the  truth  concerning  that  wretched  af- 
fair? 

"I  trust  you  will  explain  it,"  he  said,  earnestly.  "You 
know  that  I  still  rest  beneath  a  cloud.  If  you  could 
clear  that  cloud  away " 

"Wait,"  she  said.  "Wait  a  little.  I  cannot  now, 
but  I  wish  to  be  a  friend  to  one  who  can  play  football 
as  you  do — one  who  can  strike  such  a  blow." 

"If  you  will  clear  me  so  that  Miss  Lee  will  not  be- 
lieve that  I  am  such  a  weak  wretch " 

"Miss  Lee?" 

The  girl's  face  fell  and  she  did  not  seem  pleased. 

"Yes.  You  know  I  was  engaged  to  waltz  with  her. 
She  came  and  saw  me  lying  on  the  table.  She  thought 
me  intoxicated,  and " 

"I  know  all  about  it ;  but  it  happens  that  we  are  not 
as  good  friends  as  we  were.  We  have  had  a  falling 
out" 

"That  is  too  bad!" 

"Oh,  I  don't  know  as  I  care  so  much !"  said  the  girl, 
with  a  toss  of  her  head.  "I  am  enjoying  myself  just 
as  well  as  I  did  before." 

Frank  was  disappointed,  for  he  had  hoped  that  Miss 
Darley's  change  of  manner  meant  that  Winifred  Lee 
would  come  around  also.  He  had  hoped  Eunice  would 
aid  him  in  restoring  himself  in  Winifred's  good  graces, 


8o  What  Eunice  Said. 

but  now  he  saw  there  was  little  chance  of  that.  When 
he  came  to  think  over  what  the  girl  said  he  was  greatly 
puzzled  by  her  change  of  manner.  What  had  she 
meant  by  saying  she  wished  to  be  a  friend  to  one  who 
could  strike  such  a  blow?  Then  he  remembered  the 
fellow  and  girl  on  the  dark  corner.  He  had  knocked 
the  fellow  down  and  the  girl  had  fled. 

Was  it  Eunice? 

Was  it  true  that  this  girl  could  tell  something  that 
would  remove  all  suspicion  that  he  had  been  intoxi- 
cated at  the  party  ?  She  had  said  she  knew  he  was  not 
intoxicated.  How  did  she  know  it  ? 

Frank  saw  her  often  after  this  meeting,  and  she  re- 
mained very  friendly.  She  even  invited  him  to  call, 
but  he  did  not  find  the  time  to  do  so. 

The  date  of  the  great  match  in  New  York  ap- 
proached. Merriwell  had  discarded  his  cane,  and  his 
knee  seemed  almost  as  well  as  ever.  He  ran  and 
jumped  with  it.  He  took  heavy  exercises,  and  still  it 
did  not  weaken. 

Old  Man  Hickson  observed  this,  and  he  asked  Frank 
why  he  did  not  report  for  practice.  Frank  replied  that 
he  supposed  he  was  laid  off  the  team  for  good,  but 
Hickson  assured  him  this  was  not  true. 

"We  want  you  as  a  substitute,  at  least,"  the  cap- 
tain declared.  "Get  out  and  practice,  Merriwell." 


What  Eunice  Said.  81 

So  Merriwell  resumed  practice  on  those  sharp  No- 
vember afternoons,  and  he  went  into  the  work  with  an 
energy  that  led  Hickson  to  caution  him  against  injur- 
ing himself  again. 

But  Driscoll  was  retained  on  the  eleven,  and  Halli- 
day  continued  to  do  good  work  on  the  line.  The  eleven 
was  finally  whipped  into  shape  for  the  game  which  was 
to  be  the  event  of  the  season,  and  Merriwell  was  re- 
tained as  a  substitute. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  GREAT  FOOTBALL  GAME. 

Every  seat  on  Manhattan  Field  was  taken;  thou- 
sands were  standing.  The  grand  stand  was  festooned 
with  bunting.  The  sun  shone  clear  and  bright.  There 
-were  coaches  brilliant  with  fashionable  people.  Ev- 
erywhere were  flags  and  horns.  The  vast  crowd  was 
a  moving  and  tremendous  silhouette  against  the  sky. 

A  little  negro  boy  came  out  and  carried  a  collie 
around  the  field  and  over  the  chalkmarks.  The  collie 
had  black  and  yellow  about  its  neck. 

In  places  there  were  great  masses  of  blue  flags 
packed  together.  In  other  places  the  yellow  was  seen. 
There  was  a  great  murmur  of  voices. 

Suddenly  a  band  blared  forth.  Princeton's  cheers 
rolled  over  the  field  as  the  orange-and-black  team 
trotted  out. 

The  yellow  flags  fluttered  and  the  horns  tooted. 
Then  it  seemed  that  five  hundred  Princeton  lads  broke 
into  the  song,  "The  Orange  and  Black" : 

"Although  Yale  has  always  favored  the  violet's  dark  hue, 
And  the  many  sons  of  Harvard  to  the  crimson  rose  are  true, 
We  will  hold  a  lily  slender — no  honor  shall  it  lack 
While  the  Tiger  stands  defender  of  the  orange  and  the  black. 


7he  Great  Football  Game.  83 

"Through   the   long   four  years   of   college, 
'Midst  the  scenes  we  love  so  well, 
As  we  win  athletic  victories 
On  the  football  field  or  track, 
Still  we'll  work  for  dear  old  Princeton 
And  the  orange  and  the  black." 

The  great  shocks  of  hair  bobbed  around  after  the 
ball,  and  the  spectators  watched  the  practice  with  some 
interest,  but  more  impatience.  They  were  all  grouped 
and  consulting  solemnly,  when  the  Yale  cheers  pealed, 
blue  seemed  to  flutter  everywhere,  and  the  Yale  team 
came  on  at  a  quick  run. 

Yale  took  a  short  bit  of  practice,  and  the  Yale 
crowd  took  a  turn  at  singing  to  the  tune  of  "Hold  the 
Fort": 

"Line  up,  rushers,  line  up  briskly, 

Line  up  with  a  will; 
We  have  always  beaten  Princeton, 
And  we  always  will. 

CHORUS  : 
"Hold  the  ball,  Van  Tassel's  coming, 

Hickson  signals  still; 
Powell  goes  through  the  center, 
Win  we  must  and  will ! 

"Bristol  will  try  in  vain  the  drop  kick, 

Coburn  rushes  through ; 
Murphy  he  is  fun  for  Thornton, 
Cross  is  looking  blue. 

"French  and  Halliday  tackle  surely, 

One  at  either  end ; 
Bannard  he  holds  fast  at  center, 
Bailey  will  not  bend. 


84  The  Great  Football  Game. 

"Line  up,  rushers,  line  up  briskly, 

Line  up  with  a  will; 
We  have  always  beaten  Princeton, 
And  we  always  will." 

Merriwell  was  one  of  the  seven  substitutes  who  went 
to  work  warming  up.  He  did  not  complain.  He 
hoped  to  be  in  the  game  before  the  end  came. 

Hartwick  was  watching  him  from  the  dressing- 
rooms,  and  Roland  Ditson  was  at  his  side,  Ditson 
laughed  sneeringly. 

"I  should  think  it  would  cut  Merriwell  to  be  only  a 
substitute,"  he  said.  "He  tries  to  be  foremost  in 
everything." 

"He  is  blamed  lucky  to  be  a  substitute!"  growled 
Hartwick.     "There  was  a  time  when  it  did  not  look  as 
if  he  would  be  that." 
"After  he  hurt  his  knee?" 

"No.     After  he  was  found  drunk  at  that  party." 
"But  he  wasn't  drunk — he  never  drinks,  you  know." 
"Well,  that  night  he  certainly  drank — something." 
"Say,  old  man,"  grinned  Ditson,  knowingly,  "I  be- 
lieve you  know  what  knocked  Merriwell  out  that  night 
You  know  we  placed  the  glasses  around  him  so  it 
would  seem  that  he  had  been  drinking  lots  of  punch, 

and " 

"Dry  up!     The  game  is  going  to  begin." 

As  Frank  went  out  with  the  team  he  had  caught  a 


The  Great  Football  Game.  85 

glimpse  of  a  familiar  face — the  face  of  Winifred  Lee. 
It  almost  seemed  that  she  looked  straight  at  him  and 
smiled,  but  he  fancied  he  must  be  mistaken.  That 
smile  had  been  intended  for  some  other  fellow. 

The  toss-up  had  given  Princeton  choice,  and  advan- 
tage of  sun  and  wind  had  been  taken  at  the  start-off. 
The  signal  was  given,  and  then — plunk !  The  foot  of 
Bristol,  Princeton's  full-back,  sent  the  ball  spinning 
into  Yale's  territory. 

The  game  was  on. 

There  was  a  flurry  of  blue,  another  punt,  and  the 
ball  shot  back  at  Princeton.  Then  the  two  masses 
rushed  together,  and  there  was  a  few  seconds  of  hot 
work,  another  punt,  and  Princeton's  left  end  was  off 
side,  so  Yale  got  the  ball  in  the  middle  of  the  field. 

Without  loss  of  time  the  old  revolving  wedge  was 
tried  against  Princeton,  but  only  a  small  gain  was 
made,  as  Princeton  showed  its  ability  to  tackle  swift, 
hard  and  sure.  In  the  midst  of  this  a  Princeton  man 
was  injured,  but  he  was  soon  rubbed  into  shape  and 
the  game  went  on. 

Merriwell  was  watching  with  breathless  interest. 
He  could  feel  his  heart  pounding  in  his  bosom.  How 
he  longed  to  be  in  the  midst  of  that  work ! 

Again  Yale  tried  the  revolving  wedge,  but  the  team 
work  of  Princeton  was  marvelous  and  Yale  could  not 


86  The  Great  Football  Game. 

make  a  gain.  In  a  few  moments  the  ball  was  lost  to 
Princeton  on  downs. 

The  very  opening  of  the  game  showed  that  it  was  to 
be  a  fierce  battle.  Neither  side  had  made  a  gain  of 
any  account.  They  were  still  fighting  near  the  cen- 
ter of  the  field. 

Then  Strawbridge,  Princeton's  quarter-back,  tried  to 
go  through  with  the  pigskin.  There  was  a  furious 
jumble  and  Strawbridge  emerged  from  the  midst  of  it, 
but  Halliday  was  in  the  right  place  and  tackled  him 
neatly,  laying  him  low. 

Yale  spectators  cheered  at  this.  The  gain  had  been 
of  no  consequence.  An  around-the-end  play  was  tried, 
but  that  was  not  satisfactory. 

Yale  got  the  ball  and  forced  it  into  Princeton's  terri- 
tory on  short  downs.  Then  a  tandem  play  was  tried 
and  the  Princeton  line  was  broken,  allowing  Yale  to 
carry  the  ball  to  Princeton's  twenty-five-yard  line  be- 
fore being  stopped. 

Evan  Hartwick  was  shaking  as  he  watched.  He 
fell  to  cursing  under  his  breath. 

"If  I  have  made  a  mistake  in  my  judgment  I  am 
broke!"  he  grated.  "I  have  figured  all  along  that 
Princeton  was  bound  to  win  this  game.  Every  dollar 
I  have  in  the  world  and  all  I  could  borrow  is  on  this 
game,  Princeton  must  win!" 


The  Great  Football  Game.  87 

Hartwick  did  not  have  the  nerve  of  a  gambler.  His 
apprehensions  were  easily  aroused. 

Ditson  grinned  as  he  overheard  Hartwick's  words. 

"What  would  the  fellows  say  if  they  knew  you  bet 
against  your  own  team?"  he  asked  in  a  purring  tone 
of  voice. 

"Curse  the  fellows!"  snapped  the  other.  "What 
right  have  you  to  be  listening.  Your  ears  are  always 
open!" 

But  Yale  was  unable  to  hold  the  ground  she  had 
gained.  Curtis  was  sent  against  Princeton's  center. 
He  shot  forward  like  a  rock  from  a  catapault;  he 
bounded  back  like  a  hand  ball.  There  was  another 
jumble  and  Princeton  got  the  ball. 

Once  more  Strawbridge  tried  Yale's  center.  He 
went  through  for  a  gain  of  ten  yards.  From  that  point 
the  ball  was  steadily  and  surely  forced  into  Yale's  ter- 
ritory. It  seemed  that  Yale  had  weakened  of  a  sud-  . 
den,  and  the  crowd  began  to  wonder  if  Princeton  would 
never  stop. 

At  last  the  Tigers  were  held  on  Yale's  fifteen-yard 
line.  Then  it  was  seen  that  Bristol,  Princeton's  full- 
back, would  try  to  kick  a  goal  from  the  field. 

It  was  a  time  of  intense  suspense.  There  were  no 
cheers ;  a  great  hush  had  fallen  on  the  field  and  on  the 
spectators.  Bristol  had  a  reputation  for  his  kicking. 


88  The  Great  Football  Game. 

He  seemed  cool  as  a  cake  of  ice  as  he  sauntered  up  to 
just  the  right  spot. 

Punk !  away  sailed  the  ball.  There  was  a  Princeton 
cheer,  followed  by  a  Yale  yell  of  joy,  for  Bristol  had 
missed  a  goal,  and  Van  Tassle  sent  the  pigskin  back 
into  the  middle  of  the  field. 

"Oh — there — are — others!"  roared  the  Yale  ad- 
mirers at  Bristol. 

Then  there  was  some  hot  punting,  which  ended  with 
Yale  getting  the  ball  by  Bissel,  Princeton's  right  half- 
back, kicking  out  of  bounds. 

Following  this  were  some  furious  rushes.  Men  piled 
upon  each  other  like  wildcats.  And  then  a  halt  was 
called,  for  as  the  men  untangled  themselves  a  lad  in 
blue  was  seen  stretched  helpless  and  motionless  on  the 
ground. 

Rattleton  was  near  Merriwell. 

"Who  is  it,  Merry?"  he  called. 

"I  think  it  is  Powell,"  replied  Frank. 

"Then  you  are  likely  to  get  a  turn,  old  man,"  said 
Harry,  with  intense  satisfaction.  "The  boys  need 
bracing." 

Rattleton  had  the  utmost  confidence  in  his  friend. 
He  believed  Merriwell  could  give  the  entire  team  a 
braee. 


The  Great  Football  Game.  89 

It  was  in  truth  Powell,  and  he  was  so  seriously  in- 
jured that  it  was  necessary  to  take  him  off  the  field. 

Then,  as  had  been  expected,  Merriwell  was  called  on 
to  fill  the  vacancy.  Frank  was  in  the  game  at  last,  and 
he  had  got  there  before  the  first  half  was  over. 

Hartwick  ground  his  teeth  with  fury.  "I  hope  he'll 
be  killed !"  muttered  Evan,  bitterly. 

"Oh,  he  can't  win  the  game  alone!  He  is  not  a 
whole  team !"  laughed  Ditson.  "I  don't  fancy  you  will 
see  that  he  makes  any  difference  in  the  game." 

"Oh,  he  is  liable  to  do  something  to  call  attention  to 
himself.  It  is  a  way  he  has.  That's  why  I  wanted  to 
keep  him  out  of  the  game." 

"Well,  it  is  too  late  to  keep  him  out  now." 

"Yes ;  but  he  might  be  prevented  from  playing  more 
than  the  first  half.  Such  a  thing  is  not  impossible." 

Ditson  caught  at  this  as  a  trout  snaps  at  a  fly. 

"What  do  you  mean?'  How  can  he  be  prevented 
from  playing?" 

"Oh,  there  are  lots  of  ways  to  stop  him.  He  does 
not  drink,  yet  he  swallowed  something  that  made  him 
seem  drunk  not  so  very  long  ago." 

"You  mean  that  he  might  be " 

"Shut  up!  Be  careful  how  you  speak.  I've  got 
the  stuff  to  stop  him.  Will  you  try  it  ?" 


90  The  Great  Football  Game. 

"Give  it  to  me!  I  do  not  like  him  any  more  than 
you  do,  as  you  must  know.  I'll  try  if  I  get  a  chance." 

Hartwick  took  something  from  his  pocket  and 
slipped  it  into  Ditson's  hand.  Then  there  was  a  wild 
cheer,  and  the  game  was  on  once  more. 

Once  again  the  yellow  was  fluttering  wildly,  for 
Princeton  was  forcing -Yale  back  and  the  blue  was  com- 
pelled to  play  on  the  defensive.  It  was  a  stubborn 
fight,  but  the  Tigers  were  working  like  fiends,  urged 
on  by  the  wild  cheers  of  the  crowd. 

It  was  a  marvelous  sight,  one  to  stir  the  blood  to  its 
quickest,  one  never  to  be  forgotten.  Men  howled  their 
delight  and  waved  their  hats  and  yellow  flags ;  women 
and  girls  waved  flags  and  handkerchiefs,  and  amid  all 
that  uproar  there  was  a  shrill  note  that  told  the  voices 
were  not  all  masculine. 

The  time  was  growing  short,  and  Princeton  was 
fighting  for  a  touchdown  before  the  end  of  the  first 
half.  It  seemed  that  they  were  determined  to  succeed, 
for  Yale  could  not  hold  them  until  her  twenty-yard  line 
was  reached.  Right  there  they  were  checked,  and  it 
was  seen  that  Yale  was  fighting  after  their  famous 
"last-ditch"  style  of  playing. 

Twenty-two  young  human  panthers,  supple,  agile, 
fearless  and  determined,  were  struggling  for  the  mas- 
tery. They  were  covered  with  dirt,  their  long  hair 


The  Great  Football  Game.  91 

was  disheveled,  their  faces  were  set,  and  their  eyes 
gleamed  with  fine  fury. 

When  Princeton  found  they  could  not  batter  their 
way  through  to  a  touchdown  there  came  a  sudden 
change  of  play.  It  became  evident  that  Bristol  was 
going  to  make  another  try  to  kick  a  goal  from  the  field. 
The  men  assumed  their  positions,  Princeton  ready  to 
attempt  to  stop  Yale's  rush  line.  Bristol  balanced  him- 
self for  the  kick.  He  was  steady  as  a  mill,  although 
he  knew  well  enough  that  he  would  barely  be  able  to 
lift  the  ball  before  Yale's  rush  line  would  break  through 
and  pile  upon  him  like  a  lot  of  creatures  furious  for 
his  blood.  He  might  be  crushed  and  seriously  in- 
jured. It  was  almost  certain  he  would  be  hurled  into 
the  dirt.  Still  he  was  cool  and  unwavering. 

Merriwell  was  watching  every  movement,  every 
look.  He  fancied  he  detected  a  sudden  change  of 
Princeton's  plans,  although  Bristol  was  still  balancing 
himself  for  the  kick.  He  saw  Bissel,  Princeton's  right 
half,  fall  back  a  yard  or  two.  Then,  just  when  Bris- 
tol seemed  to  kick,  the  ball  was  snapped  back  to  Bissel 
and  he  shot  around  the  end  with  it. 

Yale  had  been  fooled,  and  a  great  roar  went  up  from 
the  crowd. 

Wait!  There  was  one  man  in  blue  had  not  been 
deceived.  Frank  Merriwell  was  after  Bissel,  but  be- 


92  The  Great  Football  Game. 

hind  him.  In  another  moment  Bissel  would  go  over 
the  line  and  score  a  touchdown. 

Then  Merriwell  hurled  himself  forward,  his  hands 
touched  Bissel's  hips,  slipped  to  his  knees,  his  ankles, 
and  clung  there  like  hooks. 

Bissel  went  down,  and  a  great  mass  of  blue  and  yel- 
low piled  upon  him.  It  was  a  masterly  tackle,  and 
Merriwell  had  won  distinction  so  soon. 

Had  a  goal  been  made?  That  was  the  question  on 
every  lip.  Slowly  the  mass  of  human  beings  untan- 
gled, for  the  whistle  had  been  heard  and  the  first  half 
was  ended. 

Then,  at  last,  it  was  seen  that  Bissel  had  been  stopped 
just  beyond  reach  of  the  line,  and  the  Yale  cheer  was 
heard,  for  Merriwell  had  kept  Princeton  from  scoring. 

Thus  the  first  half  ended,  and  neither  side  had  made 
a  point. 

Merriwell  was  the  hero  of  the  moment.  Everybody 
was  asking  his  name.  His  comrades  were  congratu- 
lating him  as  they  went  back  to  quarters. 

Hartwick  had  seen  it  all,  and  it  is  impossible  to  tell 
the  bitterness  which  filled  his  heart.  The  very  thing 
had  happened  that  he  had  hoped  to  prevent  by  any 
means. 

"He  must  not  play  the  last  half!"  hissed  Evan 
through  his  set  teeth.  "He  must  be  fixed  some  way." 


The  Great  Football  Game.  93 

"He  looked  around  for  Ditson,  but  that  worthy  had 
vanished.  Then  Hartwick  rushed  away,  bent  on  some 
desperate  purpose. 

As  Merriwell  went  to  quarters  he  happened  to  look 
up,  and  he  saw  amid  the  crowd  that  face  that  had 
thrilled  him  so  at  the  beginning  of  the  game. 

Winnie  Lee  was  there,  and  she  had  seen  it  all.  She 
was  radiant  and  she  fluttered  her  handkerchief  in  his 
direction.  His  heart  leaped  with  the  thought  that  the 
signal  might  be  intended  for  him  after  all. 

In  under  the  stand  the  men  were  rubbed  down  by  ex- 
perienced hands.  Merriwell  heard  many  voices  con- 
gratulating him.  He  said  nothing  in  return. 

Somebody  offered  him  a  glass  of  water,  which  he 
took  and  lifted  to  his  lips.  He  did  not  taste  it  be- 
fore it  was  dashed  from  his  hand,  and  the  familiar 
voice  of  Rattleton  cried : 

"Excuse  me!  Don't  wat  any  taker — I  mean  take 
any  water  from  strangers!  I'll  see  that  what  you  get 
is  all  right." 

Frank  saw  that  a  stranger  with  a  full  beard  had 
offered  him  the  drink.  The  man  seemed  to  be  highly 
indignant,  and  he  used  some  very  severe  language  in 
addressing  Rattleton,  who  did  not  pay  the  slightest  at- 
tention to  him. 


94  The  Great  Football  Game. 

Harry  gave  Frank  a  drink,  fairly  beaming  with  de- 
light 

"Oh,  it  was  a  dandy  tackle — a  peach!"  he  declared. 
"And  he'd  made  a  touchdown  without  a  struggle  if  it 
hadn't  been  for  you.  If  Yale  wins,  it  will  be  because 
you  saved  the  game  right  there.  The  Tigers  could  not 
be  stopped  if  they  had  succeeded  in  that  trick.  Now 
the  boys  will  have  the  courage  to  hold  them." 

A  messenger  came  in  with  a  note  for  Merriwell. 
This  is  what  he  read : 

"DEAR  MR.  MERRIWELL:  Win  this  game!  If  you 
do  you  will  strike  your  worst  enemy  a  blow.  If  you 
do,  I  may  be  able  to  clear  up  the  mystery  of  a  little  af- 
fair that  placed  you  under  a  cloud.  Win  it  some  way. 

"E.  D." 

"E.  D.,"  thought  Frank  as  he  tore  up  the  note.  "It 
must  be  from  Eunice  Darley.  I  wonder  if  she  thinks 
it  possible  for  me  to  win  the  game  all  by  myself  ?" 

The  bearded  stranger  was  lingering  near.  He  was 
watching  Merriwell  steadily,  but  got  no  opportunity  to 
approach  the  player  again. 

Quickly  the  time  came  for  the  playing  to  be  re- 
sumed. Out  upon  the  field  trotted  the  players,  and 
again  the  Tigers  and  the  boys  in  blue  faced  each  other, 
their  positions  reversed. 

The  bearded  man  came  from  the  dressing-rooms  and 


The  Great  Football  Game.  95 

spoke  to  Hartwick.  Ditson  hurried  up.  A  few  words 
passed  between  the  three,  and  both  Hartwick  and  Dit- 
son seemed  disgusted  and  furious. 

The  crowd  was  cheering  once  more  and  the  great 
game  was  on  again.  The  ball  was  soon  punted  to 
Yale's  thirty-five-yard  line,  and  there  it  clung. 

It  was  noticeable  that  Yale  was  playing  almost  con- 
tinually on  the  defensive.  All  through  the  game  the 
ball  had  been  the  most  of  the  time  in  her  territory. 
The  Tigers  forced  the  play.  Yale  had  a  few  weak 
points,  and  she  did  not  seem  to  be  in  as  good  condition 
as  Princeton,  but  she  was  desperate,  and  there  was  not 
a  man  of  her  eleven  who  did  not  seem  to  feel  as  if  he 
were  battling  for  his  life  and  honor. 

Finally  Yale  got  the  ball,  and  Curtis  went  around 
the  end  with  it,  getting  into  Princeton's  territory  before 
being  downed.  This  caused  the  Yale  rooters  to  open 
up  in  great  style.  The  Yale  cheer  rang  out  and  the 
blue  flags  waved. 

For  a  few  minutes  Yale  played  master  football. 
Then  Halliday  was  hurt  and  forced  to  retire.  A  new 
man  was  put  in  his  place.  He  was  heavier  than  Ben, 
but  not  quite  so  snappy.  However,  his  weight  told  in 
the  rushes. 

Yale  tried  to  advance  the  ball  in  various  ways  and 
made  some  small  gains,  but  there  were  no  particularly 


96  The  Great  Football  Game. 

brilliant  plays  for  some  time.  Kicking  was  tried,  but 
Princeton  had  kickers,  too,  and  Yale  was  forced  to 
abandon  this  style  of  playing. 

It  was  drawing  toward  the  close  of  the  second  half, 
and  still  neither  side  had  scored.  The  spectators  were 
wrought  up  to  an  intense  point  of  excitement,  for  every 
one  seemed  to  feel  that  a  crisis  was  approaching.  At 
any  moment  a  brilliant  play  might  decide  the  game  in 
favor  of  one  side  or  the  other. 

Yale  did  not  hold  her  advantage  long.  Princeton 
got  the  ball,  and  then,  by  a  series  of  rushes  and  around- 
the-end  plays,  advanced  it  into  Yale's  territory  again. 
The  boys  in  blue  retreated,  fighting  every  inch  of  the 
ground,  yet  beaten  back  in  a  manner  that  caused  their 
friends  to  lose  heart. 

"They  are  worked  out,"  was  the  general  opinion. 
"That  last  rush  finished  them  and  now  Princeton  will 
win  with  ease." 

It  seemed  that  this  was  right.  Yale's  line  could  not 
hold  before  the  rushes  of  the  furious  Tigers.  The  cen- 
ter was  lifeless,  the  ends  were  wavering,  and  it  seemed 
that  the  whole  team  was  going  to  pieces. 

The  friends  of  Yale  became  silent  and  anxious.  Ev- 
ery fresh  gain  of  the  Tigers  caused  the  Haunters  of  the 
yellow  to  whoop  with  delight.  Back  and  still  back 
Yale  was  forced.  Thirty-five  yards,  thirty,  twenty, 


The  Great  Football  Game.  97 

fifteen,  ten — it  seemed  that  one  more  grand  rush  would 
carry  the  ball  over  for  Princeton. 

The  great  crowd  of  spectators  had  arisen  as  one  man. 
The  excitement  was  tremendous,  the  uproar  was  deaf- 
ening. More  than  twenty  thousand  human  beings 
were  frantic  with  fear  or  joy. 

But  once  more  Yale  braces,  and  again  the  "last-ditch'* 
style  of  playing  enables  the  desperate  boys  in  blue  to 
hold  the  Tigers  where  they  are.  Not  another  inch  can 
Princeton  gain. 

Then  it  seemed  that  at  some  preconcerted  signal 
every  Yale  man  on  Manhattan  Field  took  up  the  well- 
known  college  cheer.  It  made  a  volume  of  sound  that 
was  heard  high  above  the  general  uproar,  and  it  put 
new  life  and  heart  into  the  eleven  desperate  men  who 
were  ready  to  spill  their  hearts'  blood  to  hold  the  Tigers 
bock.  In  one  great  roar  it  rolled  over  the  field : 

"Breka  Co  ax  Co  ax  Co  ax! 

Breka  Co  ax  Co  ax  Co  ax! 

O — up !    O — up ! 

Parabolou ! 
Yale!    Yale!    Yale! 
'Rah!  'rah!  'rah! 
Yale !" 

What  was  that?  A  sudden  change — Yale  had  the 
ball!  Holding  it  to  his  heart,  a  dust-covered  lad  in 
blue  was  off  like  a  shot  with  it.  That  cheer  seemed  to 


98  The  Great  Football  Game. 

have  turned  the  tide  of  battle.  The  Yale  men  were 
working  as  if  the  play  had  been  arranged  from  start  to 
finish  long  before.  The  quarter-back  had  given  some 
signals,  and  every  man  was  doing  his  part. 

It  was  Frank  Merriwell  who  had  the  ball  and  who 
had  been  sent  straight  across  Princeton's  center.  As 
a  last  resort  a  strategic  attempt  had  been  made  to  send 
Merriwell  suddenly  through,  just  when  an  around-the- 
end  play  was  expected. 

Now  the  blue  was  waving  everywhere,  now  the  Yale 
crowd  was  roaring  its  new  hope  and  joy. 

"Merriwell !     Merriwell !     Merriwell !" 

He  was  known — his  name  went  up  in  a  great  shout. 

Aided  by  Yale's  masterly  interference,  Frank  plunged 
straight  through  Princeton's  center.  The  great  form 
of  Murphy  loomed  before  him,  but  Thornton  was  on 
hand  and  Murphy  was  hurled  aside.  But  now  Frank 
was  in  advance,  for  the  shock  had  staggered  and 
stopped  Thornton.  Lawlor  came  charging  at  Merri- 
well, but  Frank  dodged  him  and  darted  on.  Heiss 
rushed  in  from  the  other  side  and  plunged  for  a  tackle. 
He  miscalculated  Merriwell's  speed,  and  Frank  still 
dashed  forward.  Bailey  was  the  only  man  who  stood 
between  Merriwell  and  a  touchdown.  Bailey  seemed 
to  know  how  much  depended  on  him.  He  prepared  to 
tackle  low  and  sure. 


The  Great  Football  Game.  99 

There  was  a  moment  of  suspense,  a  great  roar,  and 
the  boy  in  blue  continued  down  the  field,  while  Bailey 
sprawled  on  the  ground.  Once  more  Frank  had  been 
able  to  deceive  the  tackier. 

A  band  of  furious  Tigers  were  racing  after  Mem- 
well,  bound  to  overtake  and  stop  him.  But  Merriwell 
astonished  everybody  with  his  speed.  Like  a  race 
horse  he  darted  along.  He  had  dashed  straight 
through  Princeton's  line,  and  he  ran  the  whole  length 
of  the  field  without  being  overtaken  and  tackled. 

Over  the  line  he  went  and  dropped  on  the  ball. 

A  touchdown ! 

Then  there  was  cheering.  It  was  the  most  wonder- 
ful run  ever  seen  on  Manhattan  Field,  and  Merriwell 
was  the  hero  of  the  day. 

Van  Tassle  kicked  a  goal,  and  during  the  few  min- 
utes left  for  play  Yale  was  able  to  hold  her  own,  so  the 
game  ended  six  to  nothing  in  her  favor. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

A   SCORE   TO   SQUARE. 

There  was  a  great  jubilee  in  New  York  that  night, 
but  Frank  Merriwell  took  no  part  in  it.  Tired  and 
sore,  he  rested,  surrounded  by  admiring  friends. 

Professor  Scotch,  who  did  not  believe  in  football, 
was  on  hand  to  fuss  and  scold  and  praise  Frank.  It 
was  comical  to  hear  the  little  man  rail  at  the  boy  and 
then  strut  and  crow  over  the  manner  in  which  Frank 
had  won  the  game. 

But  what  made  Frank  happiest  was  a  handsome  bou- 
quet of  flowers,  to  which  was  attached  a  card.  On  the 
card  was  daintily  written  these  few  words : 

"From  an  admiring  friend,  who  is  sorry  she  per- 
mitted herself  to  be  deceived  by  outward  appearances." 

"It  must  be  from  Winifred !"  he  thought.  "I  won- 
der if  the  other  will  keep  her  word  and  clear  up  mat- 
ters?" 

When  Frank  got  back  to  New  Haven  he  was  the 
hero  and  idol  of  the  college.  It  was  considered  an 
honor  to  obtain  an  introduction  to  him,  and  fellows 
who  had  never  deigned  to  look  at  him  before  sought 
to  be  presented. 


A  Score  to  Square.  101 

But  all  this  laudation  did  not  turn  Frank's  head. 
He  remained  true  to  his  former  friends,  and  they  could 
not  see  the  least  change  in  his  manner.  He  insisted 
that  they  were  giving  him  altogether  too  much  credit, 
and  that  any  other  fellow  on  the  eleven  might  have 
done  what  he  did  had  he  found  the  opportunity. 

It  was  not  long  before  Frank  received  an  invitation 
to  call  on  Winifred  Lee.  As  may  be  supposed,  he  lost 
no  time  in  complying. 

That  Anight,  when  he  returned  to  his  room,  he  was 
in  a  state  of  mingled  satisfaction  and  perplexity.  Harry 
wondered  and  questioned  him. 

"What's  the  matter  with  you,  Merry?"  he  asked. 
"Didn't  the  dear  girl  receive  you  just  as  you  expected  ?" 

"It  isn't  that.  Her  reception  was  more  than  I  ex- 
pected, but  I  am  placed  in  a  deuced  awkward  position." 

"How  is  that?" 

"Well,  you  know  I  want  to  prove  beyond  a  doubt 
that  I  was  drugged  and  not  drunk  at  Mrs.  Greydon's. 
Winnie — er,  I  mean  Miss  Lee,  has  acknowledged  that 
she  now  knows  it  for  a  fact.  She  says  she  has.  re- 
ceived positive  proof  of  it  since  the  football  match,  but 
she  claims  that  the  one  who  drugged  me  had  been  told 
that  it  was  all  a  harmless  joke.  That  person,  she 
says,  must  not  be  exposed.  The  truth  cannot  be  told 
unless  that  person  is  exposed,  and  there  I  am." 


IO2  A  Score  to  Square. 

"Well,  that  is  a  molly  jess — I  mean  a  jolly  mess! 
What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it  ?" 

"That  is  what  is  bothering  me.  I  think  I  know 
all  the  parties  concerned." 

"You  do?     Who  are  they?" 

"Well,  Hartwick  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  whole  af- 
fair and  he  got  another  person  to  drug  me.  The  stuff 
was  dropped  into  the  water  I  drank " 

"And  Eunice  Barley  did  it!" 

"Yes,"  said  Frank,  slowly,  "I  believe  that  is  the 
truth.  Miss  Darley  has  left  New  Haven,  begging  not 
to  be  exposed.  She  has  cleared  me  with  Miss  Lee,  and 
I  have  given  my  promise  not  to  bring  Miss  Darley 
into  it.  It  seems  that  she  knew  Hartwick  before  he 
came  here.  He  has  some  kind  of  a  hold  on  her  and  he 
used  her  as  a  tool ;  but,  as  I  said,  she  thought  the  mat- 
ter a  harmless  joke.  She  came  to  hate  Hartwick  at 
last,  and  knowing  he  had  bet  heavily  against  Yale,  she 
wished  to  see  Yale  win  at  Manhattan  Field.  She  sent 
me  the  note  I  told  you  about.  I  made  the  touchdown 
and  she  tried  to  keep  her  promise  to  me.  I  do  not 
know  what  power  Hartwick  had  over  her,  but  I  think 
1  have  fathomed  the  case  very  well." 

"Well,  what  are  you  going  to  do  now  ?" 

"I  propose  to  square  the  score  with  Mr.  Evan  Hart- 
wick !"  cried  Frank,  with  flashing  eyes.  .  "I  can  honor 


A  Score  to  Square.  103 

a  square  and  upright  enemy,  but  not  one  who  strikes 
me  such  a  dastardly  blow  as  did  Hartwick!  Let  him 
look  out  for  himself!" 

Two  days  later  an  entirely  different  scene  took  place 
in  Evan  Hartwick's  room,  between  that  student  and 
Roland  Ditson. 

Hartwick  was  angry  and  had  worked  himself  to  the 
point  of  saying  he  would  fight  Frank. 

"But  you  are  no  match  for  Merriwell,  you  know," 
said  Ditson,  taking  an  ornamented  cigarette  case  from 
a  table  near  at  hand  and  selecting  a  "straight  cut." 

Hartwick  walked  up  and  down  the  room,  pausing 
before  a  full-length  mirror,  in  which  he  surveyed  his 
reflection. 

"I  don't  know  about  that,"  he  returned,  sullenly. 

"Oh,  well,  I  am  judging  from  the  past,"  murmured 
Ditson,  daintily  rolling  the  cigarette  and  pulling  a  bit 
of  tobacco  from  the  ends.  "No  one  has  seemed  able 
to  get  the  best  of  that  fellow." 

"He  is  the  luckiest  dog  alive!"  snapped  Hartwick, 
showing  his  teeth.  "Everything  seems  to  run  his  way. 
I  knew  he  would  do  something  out  of  the  ordinary  if 
he  was  not  kept  off  the  eleven,  and  I " 

"Failed  in  your  efforts  to  keep  him  off." 

"Yes,"  confessed  Hartwick,  "I  did  fail." 

"And  he  made  the  touchdown  that  won  the  game," 


104  A  Score  to  Square. 

"Of  course.  It  was  just  his  luck.  If  any  other  fel- 
low on  the  team  had  been  given  the  same  opportunity, 
he  would  have  accomplished  the  same  thing.  Yale's 
interference  was  magnifiicent,  and  Merriwell  was  given 
a  clean  path  through  Princeton's  center.  If  he  had 
failed  he  would  have  been  a  stick." 

Something  like  a  faint  smile  flickered  over  Dit- 
son's  sallow  face,  or  was  it  the  flare  of  the  wax  match 
he  lighted  at  that  moment?  No  matter.  At  any  rate, 
he  knew  Merriwell  had  made  a  wonderful  run  through 
Princeton's  center,  even  though  Hartwick  denied  there 
was  anything  remarkable  about  it. 

Ditson  hated  Merriwell  quite  as  intensely  as  did 
Hartwick,  but  Ditson  had  learned  to  fear  Merriwell 
as  well  as  to  hate  him.  Hartwick  was  bolder.  Not 
that  he  was  above  underhand  work,  as  the  past  had 
shown,  but  he  would  fight  openly  if  forced  to  do  so, 

"I  did  my  best  to  get  the  stuff  you  gave  me  into 
him  between  halves,"  said  Roland,  who  had  inhaled  a 
whiff  from  the  cigarette  and  allowed  it  to  escape  as  he 
talked.  "I  got  an  outsider  to  offer  him  water  in  which 
I  had  dropped  the  powder." 

"But  he  didn't  drink  it." 

"No.  He  would  if  it  had  not  been  for  Rattleton. 
Rattleton  saved  him  that  time." 

"Hang  Rattleton!     He's  a  fool!  '  Seems  to  think 


A  Score  to  Square.  105 

there's  no  one  else  in  the  world  but  Merriwell.  He 
is  sickening!" 

"Yes,  Rattleton  sticks  by  Merriwell.  But  what's 
this  I  hear  about  Merriwell  being  drugged  at  Mrs. 
Greydon's  by  some  person  who  has  confessed  the 
whole  thing?" 

Hartwick  pressed  his  lips  together,  and  his  face 
paled  a  bit. 

"That's  rot!"  he  exclaimed. 

"Well,  I  don't  know.  Of  course,  you  didn't  do 
the  job?" 

"I  had  no  opportunity." 

"Certainly  not.  It  is  hinted  that  the  person  who 
did  it  has  said  some  other  person  was  responsible.  The 
one  who  did  it  claims  to  have  thought  it  was  a  joke." 

Hartwick  seemed  startled. 

"When  did  you  hear  all  this?" 

'To-day." 

"Who  said  it?" 

"Oh,  some  of  the  'Umpty-eighters  were  talking  it 
3ver.  They  say  that  is  why  Merriwell  is  making 
things  so  hot  for  you." 

"For  me?  Then  he  believes  I  was  concerned  in 
the  matter?  Why  doesn't  he  come  out  and  say  so 
boldly?  I  know.  He  can't  prove  it!  He  would  if 
he  could  prove  it,  and  so  he  is  giving  me  all  this 


io6  A  Score  to  Square. 

trouble.  He  has  worked  into  the  good  graces  of  Win- 
nie Lee,  so  she  thinks  he  is  a  fine  chap,  and  she  will 
not  have  anything  more  to  do  with  me.  Hang  him !" 

Hartwick  slammed  a  chair  about,  as  if  he  longed  to 
break  something. 

"This  Winnie  Lee  business  is  what  cuts  you  the 
deepest,"  said  Ditson,  his  face  hidden  for  a  moment 
behind  a  cloud  of  smoke,  as  if  he  sought  concealment. 
"You  were  hard  hit  by  that  girl." 

"Oh,  I  don't  know,"  returned  Hartwick,  with  an 
effort  at  carelessness.  "She  is  good  people.  Her 
father's  got  the  dust,  and  that's  to  be  considered,  you 
know." 

"Well,  you  and  Merriwell  became  enemies  when  he 
began  to  show  Miss  Lee  attentions.  Isn't  that  right?" 

"Oh,  I  didn't  care  about  having  the  fellow  chasing 
after  her,"  acknowledged  Hartwick.  "I  always  hated 
him,  but  I  don't  suppose  I'd  bothered  myself  about 
him  if  he  had  kept  away  from  Winnie." 

"That's  the  way  I  thought  the  matter  stood,"  nodded 
Ditson.  "He  got  the  inside  track  there." 

"Not  till  after  the  football  game.  That  seemed  to 
settle  everything  in  his  favor.  I  don't  know  yet  just 
how  it  came  around,  but  Winnie  turned  me  down  right 
away  after  that." 

"Perhaps  she  found  out " 


A  Score  to  Square.  107 

Ditson  paused 

"What?" 

"Oh,  the  truth  about  that  little  affair  at  Mrs.  Grey* 
don's.  Perhaps  she  learned  that  you  were  the  one 
who  put  up  the  job  to  drug  Merriwell." 

Hartwick  came  over  and  stood  looking  down  at  Dit- 
son, frowning  blackly,  while  there  was  an  ugly  light 
in  his  eyes. 

"Look  here,  Ditson,"  he  said,  gratingly,  "don't  you 
get  too  forward!  I  never  have  confessed  that  I  had 
anything  to  do  with  that  matter — not  even  to  you." 

Ditson  did  not  seem  in  the  least  disturbed.  He 
looked  up  at  Evan  in  a  manner  that  was  rather  insolent, 
and  said: 

"I  know  you  have  not  confessed  it,  but  that  doesn't 
make  any  difference.  You  can't  fool  any  one.  Why, 
don't  I  know  that  you  wished  to  drug  Merriwell  at  the 
football  game?  What  is  the  difference  between  that 
and  Mrs.  Greydon's?  I  know  more  than  you  told  me. 
Where  is  Eunice  Darley  ?" 

Evan  started  again  and  bit  his  lip. 

"I  don't  know,"  he  said,  shortly,  turning  away. 

"I  say,  Hartwick,"  drawled  Roland,  stretching  his 
legs  into  a  comfortable  position,  "what  kind  of  a  grip 
did  you  have  on  Eunice  Darley  that  you  were  able  to 
get  her  to  do  that  little  piece  of  work  for  you?" 


io8  A  Sccre  to  Square. 

Hartwick  wheeled,  crouching  a  bit,  his  hands 
clinched.  For  one  instant  it  seemed  that  he  would 
spring  at  his  companion,  but  Ditson  showed  no  alarm, 
calmly  blowing  a  bit  of  blue  smoke  toward  the  deco- 
rated ceiling. 

Evan  slowly  straightened  up,  unclasped  his  hands 
and  rested  them  on  his  hips,  still  surveying  Ditson. 

"Well,  you  seem  to  have  taken  a  most  remarkable  in- 
terest in  my  affairs  all  at  once,"  he  said,  sneeringly. 

"That's  natural,"  was  the  retort.  "We  have  mutual 
interests,  for  we  both  hate  Merriwell.  I  know  you 
had  some  kind  of  a  hold  on  the  Darley  girl.  At  first 
I  thought  she  was  stuck  on  you  and  trying  to  cut  Win- 
nie Lee  out,  although  they  were  friends.  After  a  time, 
I  came  to  see  that  she  seemed  to  be  helping  you  along 
with  Miss  Lee.  Then  I  decided  that  you  had  some 
kind  of  a  grip  on  her,  and  you  were  compelling  her  to 
aid  you.  Where  is  she  now?" 

"Don't  know.     Gone  home,  I  suppose." 

"You  knew  her  before  she  came  here  to  New  Ha- 
ven to  visit  ?" 

"Perhaps." 

"Of  course  you  did.     She  introduced  you  to  Win 
nie  Lee.     That  was  the  way  you  became  acquainted 
•with  Miss  Lee." 

"Well,  hang  me!"  cried  Hartwick.       "You  have 


A  Score  to  Square.  109 

posted  yourself  pretty  well  on  my  affairs !  How  much 
more  do  you  know  ?" 

"Oh,  I  know  lots  of  things  that  I  do  not  mention,'* 
smiled  Ditson,  insinuatingly.  "It  is  not  easy  to  low 
me,  Hartwick." 

"You  must  be  as  prying  as  any  old  woman !" 

"You  acknowledge  that  what  I  have  told  you  is 
true?" 

"Oh,  what's  the  use?  You  think  you  know,  and 
that  is  enough.  But,  it  is  rather  dangerous  nosing  into 
other  folks'  private  affairs.  You  had  better  be  care- 
ful." 

Ditson  waved  his  hand  carelessly. 

"Don't  waste  your  breath  warning  me.  Two  fellows 
with  a  common  cause  like  ours  should  understand  each 
other  far  better  than  we  do.  You  hate  Merriwell,  and 
I'd  like  to  see  you  get  the  best  of  him.  I'm  ready  to 
help  you,  but  I  have  no  relish  for  fighting  that  fellow. 
He  is  a  scrapper  from  away  back." 

"Oh,  I  do  not  propose  to  fight  him  with  my  fists." 

"How,  then?" 

"There  are  other  ways.  I  know  how  to  match  him. 
and  when  we  meet  I  will  mark  him  for  life!  I  have 
things  fixed  for  it.  I  will  spoil  his  pretty  face !" 

"I  don't  think  I  understand  you.  How  can  you  do 
that  unless  you  fight  him  with  your  fists  ?" 


no  A  Score  to  Square. 

"Oh,  there  are  ways.  Wait  till  things  come  around 
right.  I  will  catch  him  in  the  gym  some  day,  and  then, 
if  too  many  are  not  looking  on,  I'll  get  in  my  work." 

"In  the  gym,  eh?" 

"Yes." 

''He  is  likely  to  be  there  this  afternoon.  What  do 
you  say  if  we  go  down  ?" 

Hartwick  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  came  the 
thought  that  Ditson  might  fancy  he  feared  to  meet 
Merriwell  if  he  declined  to  go. 

"Come  on,"  he  said. 

Ditson  flung  aside  the  stump  of  his  cigarette,  and 
then  both  lads  took  their  hats  and  left  the  room  to- 
gether. 


CHAPTER  X. 

HARTWICK    FORCES    MERRIWELL. 

Every  afternoon  Frank  put  in  a  certain  amount  of 
work  at  the  gymnasium,  the  days  of  athletic  exercise 
in  the  open  air  being  over  till  spring  should  come  again. 

Frank  was  determined  to  keep  himself  in  the  finest 
possible  condition,  for  it  was  said  that  he  would  be  the 
regular  pitcher  on  the  ball  team  during  the  coming 
season,  as  Heffiner's  arm  had  never  come  back  to  its 
proper  form  after  the  serious  work  of  the  season  past. 

Among  the  exercises  which  Frank  most  admired  and 
enjoyed  was  fencing,  and  he  used  to  have  a  bout  with 
Rattleton  almost  every  afternoon.  Sometimes,  when 
Rattleton  was  not  on  hand,  Diamond  would  give  him 
ago. 

Diamond  had  been  very  proud  of  his  skill  as  a  fencer 
when  he  first  came  to  Yale.  Being  a  Virginian  and 
having  the  warm  blood  of  the  South  flowing  in  his 
veins,  he  had  thoroughly  believed  in  the  code  duello. 

It  happened  that  Diamond  had  not  admired  Frank 
at  the  outset.  A  difference  had  arisen  between  them 
over  some  trifling  matter,  and  in  all  seriousness  the 
Virginian  had  challenged  Frank  to  a  duel.  As  Frank 


ii2          Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell. 

was  the  challenged  party,  it  was  his  privilege  to  name 
the  weapons,  and  he  named — fists. 

This  did  not  satisfy  Diamond  at  all,  as  he  believed  no 
one  but  ruffians  and  prize  fighters  fought  with  their 
fists;  but  he  could  not  get  out  of  it  very  well,  and  he 
had  stood  up  before  Frank  as  long  as  possible,  taking 
his  medicine  in  a  manner  that  won  the  admiration  of 
the  spectators,  and  made  Frank  feel  thoroughly  sorry 
that  it  was  necessary  to  end  the  affair  by  knocking  him 
out,  as  he  would  not  give  up. 

Then  Diamond  was  fiercer  than  ever  to  force  Merri- 
well into  a  sword  duel,  and  he  had  finally  succeeded; 
but,  to  his  untold  amazement,  he  found  Merry  more 
than  his  match,  and  he  was  twice  disarmed.  An  in- 
terruption stopped  the  duel,  and  later  events  made  the 
two  lads  very  good  friends. 

It  did  not  take  Diamond  long  to  accustom  himself 
to  the  ways  of  the  North,  and  he  lost  little  time  in  tak- 
ing lessons  in  boxing  so  that  he  could  fight  with  his 
fists  if  occasion  arose. 

Merriwell  and  Diamond  finally  came  to  engage  in 
friendly  fencing  bouts,  as  Diamond  was  the  nearest 
Merriwell's  match  of  any  man  known  in  the  college  as 
a  practical  fencer. 

Now  Hartwick  had  taken  fencing  lessons,  and  as  he 
was  one  of  those  fellows  who  believe  no  one  can  do  any- 


Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell.          113 

thing  better  than  they,  he  had  a  conviction  that  it  would 
not  be  such  a  difficult  thing  to  get  the  best  of  Frank 
Merriwell  in  a  bout.  He  had  not  seen  much  of  Frank's 
fencing,  but  what  he  had  seen  had  not  seemed  very  re- 
markable. 

Hartwick  went  to  work  with  the  foils  to  get  himself 
in  condition,  and  all  the  while  he  had  an  object  in  view 
further  than  that  of  simply  meeting  Merriwell  in  a  set- 
to  that  might  be  regarded  by  a  casual  observer  as 
friendly. 

As  Hartwick  and  Ditson  entered  the  gymnasium  on 
the  afternoon  when  our  story  opens  they  looked  around 
sharply.  The  place  was  well  filled  with  young  men 
who  were  at  work  in  a  serious  manner  at  the  different 
exercises.  Some  were  on  the  bars,  some  were  casting 
the  shot,  some  were  pulling  away  at  the  rowing  ma- 
chines, and  others  were  engaged  in  the  hundred  of 
things  that  may  be  done  with  the  apparatus  in  the  Yale 
gym. 

A  little  exclamation  of  satisfaction  came  from  Hart- 
wick. 

"He  is  here!" 

"I  see,"  nodded  Ditson. 

"And  he  is  doing  the  very  thing  I  want  to  see 
him  at." 

"He  is  fencing  with  Diamond." 


114          Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell. 

"Yes.     Come  on — we  will  go  over  and  watch  them." 

Ditson  and  Hartwick  made  no  secret  of  their  ap- 
parent friendship.  Hartwick  had  taken  Ditson  up, 
although  Roll  was  in  the  class  below  him  and  had  been 
caught  in  tricks  which  had  caused  those  who  had 
seemed  his  friends  to  shun  him. 

They  strolled  over  toward  the  spot  where,  all  by 
themselves,  Merriwell  and  Diamond  were  fencing  in  a 
light,  delicate  and  graceful  manner. 

Diamond  was  not  quite  so  heavy  as  Merriwell,  but 
he  was  splendidly  proportioned,  and  he  had  a  fine, 
serious  face  which  had  much  of  character  in  it. 

Hartwick  and  Ditson  stopped  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  fencers  and  watched  them  at  work.  As  either  was 
touched  by  his  opponent,  Merriwell  or  Diamond  called 
out  the  point. 

It  was  a  very  pretty  exhibition,  and  it  was  plain  that 
Merriwell  was  not  greatly  the  superior  of  the  South- 
erner, although  slightly  so. 

There  was  no  laughing.  They  went  at  it  with  a 
gravity  that  made  it  seem  like  an  actual  duel,  and  yet 
they  were  as  considerate  and  gentlemanly  as  possible. 
Feint,  thrust,  parry,  riposte  followed  in  swift  succes- 
sion, the  two  lads  swinging  about  and  about,  gliding 
forward,  gliding  backward,  balancing  themselves  on 


Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell.  115 

their  toes,  and  seeming  to  hold  their  foils  as  lightly  and 
daintily  as  a  lady  holds  a  fork. 

It  was  clever  work,  as  Ditson  immediately  acknowl- 
edged to  himself;  but  there  was  a  sneer  on  Hartwick's 
face,  and  he  laughed  derisively  as  Diamond  made  a 
riposte  and  counted  on  Merriwell. 

That  laugh  attracted  Frank's  attention,  and  a  quick 
flash  of  his  eyes  showed  him  for  the  first  time  that  his 
two  enemies  were  watching  the  contest. 

Then  the  bout  went  on  as  before,  Merriwell  not  giv- 
ing the  spectators  another  glance. 

At  intervals  Hartwick  laughed.  When  he  could 
find  no  real  occasion  to  laugh  at  Merriwell's  work,  he 
laughed  anyway. 

The  hot  blood  surged  upward  into  Diamond's  cheeks 
and  a  scowl  settled  on  his  forehead.  It  was  plain  that 
he  was  greatly  annoyed,  even  though  Frank  Merriwell 
remained  as  calm  and  cool  as  possible. 

Finally  Hartwick  sneeringly  observed: 

"Well,  I  have  seen  easy  marks,  but  I  really  think  I 
have  been  watching  the  easiest  thing  on  earth.  And  it 
really  thinks  it  can  fence!" 

With  this  he  turned  his  back  on  the  two  lads. 

Quick  as  a  flash  Diamond  broke  away  and  made  a 
spring  for  Hartwick,  removing  his  mask. 

"Sir!"  he  cried,  "I  do  not  know  to  whom  you  refer, 


ii6          Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell. 

but  your  laughter  and  your  manner  has  been  an  insult 
to  both  of  us !" 

Hartwick  turned  slowly  about,  surveyed  Diamond  a 
moment,  and  then  said  with  the  utmost  deliberation : 

"I  assure  you  that  I  did  not  see  you  at  all,  my  good 
fellow.  When  I  spoke  I  referred  to  quite  another  per- 
son." 

"He  meant  me,  Jack,"  said  Merriwell,  coming  up; 
"but  I  don't  mind  anything  an  individual  of  his  char- 
acter may  say.  It  is  not  worth  noticing." 

That  was  enough  to  drive  away  all  of  Hartwick's 
pretended  coolness.  He  showed  his  anger  in  a  mo- 
ment, and  he  cried : 

"I'd  like  to  know  what  you  mean  by  an  individual 
.of  my  character!  Make  yourself  understood,  sir." 

"Come,  Jack,"  said  Frank,  "let's  finish.  Don't  mind 
them." 

"But  this  man  has  insinuated  that  one  or  both  of  us 
does  not  know  how  to  fence.  I  want  him  to  name  the 
^ne.  If  he  means  me " 

"I  tell  you  I  did  not  notice  you  at  all,"  cried  Hart- 
wick. "I  was  watching  the  bungling  work  of  this  in- 
dividual with  whom  you  were  engaged.  If  I  could  not 
.fence  better  than  he  does  I  would  not  touch  a  foil." 

Diamond  snapped  his  fingers. 

"If  you  were  to  meet  him  in  a  real  duel,  he  would 


Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell.          117 

puncture    your    heart    before   you    could    make   two 
thrusts,"  declared  the  Southerner. 

"Pouf!"  sneered  Hartwick.  "He  has  made  you 
think  he  is  something  wonderful.  I  would  toy  with 
him." 

Jack  fell  back  and  surveyed  Hartwick  wonderingly, 
as  if  doubting  the  fellow's  sanity.  Ditson  took  his  cue 
and  broke  in : 

"That  is  right,  Hartwick.  Merriwell  would  be  a 
plaything  for  you." 

"Look  here,  sir!"  cried  Diamond,  hotly,  "I  am  no 
match  for  Frank  Merriwell,  but  I  think  I  can  settle  you 
very  quickly !  That  will  stop  all  dispute.  If  you  will 
be  good  enough  to  get  into  a  suit  and  mask,  I  will  give 
you  a  go." 

Hartwick  shook  his  head. 

"Oh,  no,"  he  said.  "I  have  no  desire  to  have  it  out 
with  you.  There  would  not  be  the  least  satisfaction  in 
that.  But  there  are  others." 

"  As  he  finished  he  looked  at  Merriwell  significantly, 
insolently.     It  was  a  direct  and  open  challenge. 

Diamond  expected  to  see  Merriwell  accept  in  a  twin- 
kling, and  he  was  astonished  when  Frank  calmly  said : 

"I  have  no  fancy  for  meeting  you  in  this  manner, 
but  there  are  other  ways  and  other  places." 

"Ha!  ha!"  laughed  Hartwick,  derisively.       "That 


Ii8          Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell. 

shows  he  is  afraid  of  me!  It  shows  that  all  his  pre- 
tended skill  is  mere  bluff.  He  knows  he  is  no  match 
for  me,  and  he  does  not  dare  meet  me." 

Still  Merriwell  held  his  temper  with  an  iron  hand. 

"If  you  are  in  earnest  about  meeting  me,"  he  said, 
icily,  "you  shall  have  an  opportunity,  but  not  here  and 
now." 

"That  is  a  stand-off !  You  do  not  dare  meet  me !  I 
know  what  you  want.  You  think  to  catch  me  off  my 
guard  some  time  and  knock  me  out  with  your  fists. 
You  are  a  bruiser  and  a  ruffian,  but  I  could  soon  show 
that  you  do  not  know  the  rudiments  of  fencing." 

That  was  too  much  for  Merriwell  to  take.  He 
walked  over  and  looked  Hartwick  straight  in  the  eye. 

"It  is  plain  that  you  are  trying  to  force  me  into  a 
corner,"  he  said,  his  voice  still  steady.  "Well,  sir,  I 
have  no  fancy  for  a  contest  with  the  foils  with  you.  I 
should  relish  something  more  serious,  But  as  you 
have  placed  me  in  a  position  where  it  is  not  easy  to  re- 
fuse, I  will  give  you  all  you  desire." 

"Then  you  will  meet  me?" 

"Yes.     Get  ready." 

"Good!  You  will  find  me  ready  very  shortly.  Do 
not  run  away.  That  is  all  I  ask  of  you." 

Hartwick  hurried  away  to  a  dressing-room,  followed 
closely  by  Ditson,  who  lost  little  time  in  saying : 


Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell.          119 

"Man,  are  you  daft !  Merriwell  can  defeat  any  man 
at  Yale  with  the  foils.  He  is  sure  to  do  you  up." 

"Wait  and  watch/'  advised  Hartwick.  "You  may 
see  something  you  are  not  expecting,  and  you  must 
stand  by  me,  no  matter  what  happens." 

It  did  not  take  Hartwick  long  to  prepare  for  the  bout. 
He  came  from  the  dressing-room,  foil  in  hand,  Ditson 
following  at  his  heels,  but  looking  rather  pale  and 
alarmed. 

Ditson  did  not  understand  what  Hartwick  meant  by 
saying  something  unexpected  might  happen,  and  he 
could  not  get  Evan  to  say  more  than  that. 

Hartwick  again  urged  Ditson  to  be  sure  to  stand  by 
him,  no  matter  what  happened,  and  that  did  not  serve 
to  soothe  Roland's  agitated  nerves. 

"What  do  you  mean?  What  are  you  going  to  do?" 
fluttered  Ditson  in  an  unsteady  whisper,  grasping 
Evan's  arm  with  fingers  that  were  shaking.  "Now 
don't  do  anything  that  will  get  us  into  further  trouble ! 
I  have  had  trouble  enough  with  Frank  Merriwell." 

One  could  not  have  believed  Ditson  was  the  same  fel- 
low who  had  appeared  so  cool  and  insolent  in  Hart- 
wick's  room  a  short  time  before.  All  his  coolness  had 
vanished,  and  it  was  plain  to  his  companion  that  he 
really  stood  in  terror  of  Merriwell. 


120          Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell. 

"I  am  going  to  fix  him!"  hissed  Evan.  "I'll  do  it 
in  a  moment !" 

"Fix  him?  How?  Do  you  mean  that  you  will " 

"Mark  him  for  life — that  is  all.  Hush!  Here  we 
are." 

Merriwell  and  Diamond  were  chatting  together,  pay- 
ing very  little  attention  to  the  approach  of  the  other 
lads.  Merriwell  seemed  light  and  easy  in  his  manner, 
smiling  pleasantly  and  exhibiting  not  the  least  signs  of 
a  ruffled  temper. 

On  the  other  hand,  it  was  plain  that  Diamond  had 
been  aroused  by  Hartwick's  insolence,  for  his  every  ex- 
pression showed  the  anger  he  was  endeavoring  to  con- 
trol. 

"Well,  here  I  am." 

It  took  but  a  few  moments  to  make  all  arrangements 
for  the  little  affair.  Somehow  there  seemed  to  be  the 
air  of  a  serious  duel  about  it,  Diamond  and  Ditson 
standing  for  seconds. 

The  others  in  the  gymnasium  had  not  been  attracted 
by  anything  that  was  passing  in  that  corner,  and  they 
were  going  steadily  about  their  various  engagements. 

Diamond  made  a  few  remarks  about  certain  rules; 
but  Hartwick  did  not  object  to  anything,  seeming  quite 
willing  to  let  the  others  arrange  the  matter  to  suit  them- 
selves. 


Hartwick  Forces  Merriwell.          121 

Very  soon  Merriwell  and  Hartwick  faced  each  other, 
and  Diamond  gave  the  word : 

"On  guard!" 

The  two  lads  instantly  assumed  the  proper  position, 
with  right  sides  and  profiles  toward  each  other,  their 
foils  poised  so  the  buttons  were  about  four  inches  from 
the  floor.  Then  the  foil  was  lifted  and  extended, 
slowly  dropped  again,  swung  across  the  body  for  the 
fingers  of  the  left  hand  to  lightly  touch  the  blade,  in 
which  manner  it  was  carried  above  the  head,  held  hori- 
zontally a  second,  following  which  the  left  arm  fell 
back  in  a  slightly  curved  position,  and  the  right  arm 
dropped  till  the  foil  was  on  a  line  with  the  adversary's 
eye.  Each  one  bent  the  legs  by  separating  them  at  the 
knees,  without  moving  the  feet,  shifted  the  weight  of 
their  bodies  to  the  left  leg,  and  then  advanced  the  right 
foot  a  short  distance. 

They  were  on  guard. 

"Fence!" 

Both  advanced,  the  foils  crossed,  and  the  contest 
began. 


CHAPTER  XL 

THE   FENCING   BOUT. 

For  some  moments  the  work  was  careful  and  de- 
liberate, showing  that  they  were  "feeling  of  each 
other."  Gradually  the  action  became  swifter  as  they 
went  into  the  affair  in  earnest. 

Hartwick  was  a  fairly  good  fencer,  but  he  was  no 
match  for  Merriwell,  although  this  did  not  become  evi- 
dent for  some  time,  as  Merriwell  remained  almost 
wholly  on  the  defensive. 

Hartwick  began  to  force  the  battle.  Once  or  twice 
he  succeeded  in  counting  prettily  on  Merriwell;  but 
Frank  was  deft  in  riposte,  and  he  returned  each  count. 

Then  Merriwell  began  to  leave  what  seemed  to  be 
awkward  openings,  but  each  time  Hartwick  would  at- 
tempt to  get  in  by  them,  a  simple  turn  of  the  wrist, 
often  a  mere  movement  of  the  fingers  without  an  ap- 
parent move  of  the  hand,  was  enough  to  parry  th*" 
thrust. 

This  was  very  exasperating  for  Hartwick,  who 
swiftly  varied  his  manner  of  attack,  only  to  find  each 
different  assault  met  and  defeated  with  the  same  deft- 
ness that  told  how  expert  Merriwell  really  was. 


The  Fencing  Bout.  123 

"Hang  him !"  cried  Evan,  mentally,  "how  does  he  do 
it?  Is  he  a  wizard?  Sometimes  he  doesn't  seem  to 
move  his  hand  at  all,  but  his  confounded  foil  moves 
just  the  same !" 

Ditson  had  observed  all  this,  and  he  saw  that  Hart- 
wick  was  outmatched  and  that  Merriwell  was  simply 
standing  on  the  defensive  and  toying  with  his  foe. 

"I  told  him!"  thought  Roland.  "I  knew  how  it 
would  be !  That  fellow  Merriwell  is  a  terror !  Hart- 
wick  is  getting  hot  under  the  collar  and  perspiring, 
while  Merriwell  remains  as  cool  as  ice.  And  it  is  plain 
Hartwick  is  no  slouch." 

Something  like  a  faint  smile  came  to  the  face  of  Jack 
Diamond,  and  he  actually  pitied  Hartwick  for  a  mo- 
ment, thinking  how  humiliating  it  must  be  to  find  he 
was  a  plaything  in  Merriwell's  hands,  after  all. 

Hartwick  thrust  at  Merriwell's  right  breast,  but 
Merriwell's  foil  caught  the  other  blade,  forced  it  down 
to  the  right  in  a  very  small  circle,  then  up  over  to  the 
left,  and  back  again  to  the  same  position  he  had  held 
before  making  the  movement,  having  caught  and  forced 
Hartwick's  foil  out  of  line  in  a  twinkling. 

Hartwick  repeated  the  thrust  like  a  flash.  This  time 
Merriwell  moved  his  hand  slightly  to  the  right  and 
turned  the  thrust  without  trying  the  counter. 


124  The  Fencing  Bout. 

A  grated  exclamation  came  through  Hartwick's 
teeth. 

"You  are  very  slick!"  he  muttered,  his  eyes  glaring; 
"but  there  are  others,  as  you  will  soon  discover !" 

Merriwell  smiled  in  the  most  exasperating  manner 

"I  really  thought  you  might  be  able  to  fence,  Hart- 
wick,"  he  said,  "but  you'll  never  succeed  till  you  are 
able  to  control  your  temper.  If  you  were  engaged  in 
an  actual  duel  and  lost  your  head,  you  would  be  pretty 
sure  to  lose  your  life." 

Frank's  manner  caused  Hartwick  to  turn  pale  with 
fury,  while  his  eyes  seemed  to  start  from  their  sockets. 
His  lips  were  parted  just  enough  to  slightly  expose  his 
clinched  teeth. 

"You're  stuck  on  yourself!"  he  said,  hoarsely.  "You 
think  you  are  something,  but  you'll  find  out  you  are 
mistaken !" 

To  this  Frank  made  no  reply. 

"Some  time,"  panted  Hartwick — "some  time  we 
may  meet  in  a  real  duel!  I  have  a  score  to  square 
with  you !" 

"And  I  have  one  to  square  with  you!"  returned 
Frank,  coldly.  "You  struck  me  a  cowardly  blow  that 
came  near  bringing  disgrace  and  ruin  upon  me.  The 
time  will  come  when  I  will  even  things  up !" 

"Bah!"   retorted   Hartwick.     "Until   you   tried   to 


The  Fencing  Bout.  125 

make  trouble  for  me,  I  would  not  have  turned  my  hand 
over  had  I  been  able  to  perpetrate  any  injury  that  I 
wished  upon  you  by  so  doing.  You  were  beneath  my 
notice." 

"Really !  How  about  your  threats  when  you  said  I 
had  insulted  two  young  ladies?  You  seemed  ready  tc 
eat  me  then." 

"I  am  ever  ready  to  protect  a  lady  from  the  insults 
of  a  ruffian." 

"That  sounds  very  fine,  but  a  certain  young  man 
knocked  you  down  on  a  street  corner  one  night  for  in- 
sulting a  lady." 

"Yes,"  hissed  Hartwick,  "and  the  meddling  fool  who 
struck  the  blow  got  a  crack  on  the  head  with  his  own 
cane — a  crack  that  nearly  broke  his  skull." 

"Ha!"  cried  Merriwell,  with  satisfaction,  "this  is 
very  good!  I  see  you  were  the  fellow  who  insulted 
the  girl.  Of  that  I  was  not  certain  before,  but  you 
have  betrayed  yourself  by  your  knowledge  of  the  af- 
fair." 

Hartwick  bit  his  tongue  madly,  seeing  that  he  had 
been  tricked  into  saying  something  about  what  he  had 
better  remained  silent.  Was  this  fellow  Merriwell  to 
get  the  best  of  him  in  all  ways  ? 

"You  know  it  now,"  he  said,  seeing  that  he  could 
not  retreat,  "and  you  know  that  it  was  I  who  cracked 


126  The  Fencing  Bout. 

you  on  the  head  with  your  cane.  I  thought  1  had 
broken  your  skull,  but  it  seems  that  it  was  too  thick  to 
be  fractured  thus  easily." 

"This  adds  a  little  something  to  the  score  against 
you,  Hartwick,"  came  from  Frank.  "Now  I  know 
about  where  I  stand  with  you.  You  failed  in  your  at- 
tempt to  disgrace  me,  and  then  you  tried  to  crack  my 
skull.  There  is  a  man  who  says  he  was  hired  to  drug 
me  at  the  football  game  in  New  York.  I  presume  I 
may  as  well  count  that  against  you,  too  ?" 

Ditson  started  and  turned  pale,  while  Hartwick  be- 
trayed a  slight  amount  of  emotion. 

It  seemed  that  everything  was  coming  out.  The 
whole  black  truth  would  be  known  very  soon  unless 
something  was  done. 

Ditson  had  taken  a  hand  in  the  attempt  to  drug  Mer- 
riwell  in  New  York,  and  he  stood  in  the  utmost  terror 
of  exposure,  for  he  knew  that  he  had  remained  at  Yale 
because  Frank  was  lenient  with  him  in  regard  to  other 
offenses  which  would  have  caused  his  expulsion  had 
they  been  publicly  known. 

If  Merriwell  should  learn  that  Ditson  had  been  con- 
cerned in  the  effort  to  drug  him  at  Manhattan  Field, 
would  he  not  tell  everything?  That  was  what  Ditson 
feared. 

''"You  may  count  anything  you  like!"  snarled  Hart- 


The  Fencing  Bout.  127 

wick.  "I  suppose  you  will  try  to  do  me  up  by  blowing 
all  this?" 

"I  shall  settle  my  own  score,  and  settle  it  with  in- 
terest," said  Frank,  grimly.  "I  do  not  need  the  assist- 
ance of  any  other  person." 

Then,  with  great  rapidity,  he  counted  on  Hartwick 
thrust  after  thrust.  It  seemed  that  Evan  was  not  able 
to  stop  anything.  He  tried,  but  whenever  he  stopped 
one  form  of  thrust,  Merriwell  seemed  instantly  to 
change  it  into  another  form  that  was  effective. 

Hartwick  became  beside  himself  with  fury,  for  he 
saw  that  he  was  a  mere  plaything, in  the  hands  of  the 
lad  he  hated.  A  seething  furnace  of  fury  glowed  and 
flamed  in  his  heart,  seeming  to  send  an  almost  un- 
earthly glare  from  his  eyes. 

Frank  forced  the  contest,  driving  the  other  back. 

Suddenly,  with  a  cry  of  unspeakable  rage,  Hart- 
wick tore  the  button  from  the  point  of  his  foil  and 
lunged  straight  and  hard  at  Frank's  face! 

"Look  out!" 

The  cry  came  from  Diamond's  lips  as  he  started  for- 
ward. 

But  there  was  no  need  to  warn  Merriwell.  He  had 
been  on  his  guard  for  any  kind  of  a  move  that  Hart- 
wick might  make. 

There  was  a  clash,  a  flash,  a  twisting  movement,  and 


128  The  Fencing  Bout. 

Hartwick's  foil  was  torn  from  his  hand  and  fell  to  the 
floor. 

He  had  been  disarmed  in  a  twinkling  and  with  ease. 

"Give  it  to  him!"  cried  Diamond,  hotly.  "Give  it 
to  the  coward !" 

He  seemed  eager  to  hit  Evan  himself,  but  Merriwell 
extended  his  foil  and  pressed  it  across  the  breast  of  his 
friend,  holding  Diamond  back. 

"Easy,  old  man !"  he  warned,  never  taking  his  eyes 
for  a  moment  from  his  foe.  "This  is  my  affair,  re- 
member." 

"That's  all  right !"  flashed  from  the  hot-blooded  Vir- 
ginian. "I  know  it  is  your  affair.  Thump  him!" 

"Not  here!  You  should  know  that  it  might  mean 
expulsion  for  us  both  if  we  engaged  in  a  fight." 

"There  won't  be  a  fight,"  declared  Jack.  "You'd 
knock  him  stiff  with  one  blow.  I  don't  see  how  you 
can  keep  from  hitting  him !" 

"Let  him  try  it — let  him  try  it!"  panted  Hartwick, 
who  was  mad  with  rage  and  desperation.  "Come  on !" 

His  hand  went  around  to  his  hip  in  a  significant 
manner,  which  seemed  to  distinctly  say  that  he  was 
reaching  for  some  sort  of  a  weapon. 

"Now  don't  think  for  a  moment  that  that  little 
movement  keeps  me  from  soaking  you,"  said  Frank. 
"If  I  had  thought  of  hitting  you  I  should  not  have 


The  Fencing  Bout.  129 

given  you  time  to  get  it  out;  but  I  am  not  going  to 
strike  you — here.  There  is  another  time  coming, 
Hartwick,  and  it  will  be  a  serious  day  of  reckoning  for 
you." 

"Hang  me  if  I  can  understand  how  you  hold  your- 
self in  check  under  such  circumstances!"  cried  Dia- 
mand.  "I'd  kill  a  fellow  who  did  anything  of  the  sort 
tome!" 

"You  would  do  something  that  would  put  yourself 
to  all  appearances  in  the  wrong  with  him.  You  would 
not  consider  the  time  and  place.  Don't  think  Mr.  Evan 
Hartwick  will  not  have  to  settle  for  this  cowardly  trick. 
I  am  not  going  to  let  him  off." 

"Be  careful!"  snarled  Hartwick.  "You  may  say 
too  much !  I  can't  stand  everything  from  you !" 

Others  in  the  gymnasium  saw  something  unusual 
was  taking  place,  and  they  began  to  gather  about  the 
boys.  Seeing  this,  Hartwick  suddenly  picked  up  his 
foil  and  made  for  his  dressing-room,  followed  by  Ro- 
land Ditson,  who  was  white  and  shivering. 

Diamond  would  have  told  everything  that  had  hap* 
pened  to  all  who  asked,  but  Merriwell  silenced  him. 

"Come,"  said  Frank  to  Jack,  "we  will  dress." 

Then  he  assured  the  lads  gathered  about  that  it  was 
a  matter  of  no  consequence,  and  hurried  Diamond 
away. 


130  The  Fencing  Bout 

In  the  dressing-room  Diamond  said : 

"Merriwell,  I  cannot  understand  you  at  all.  You 
seem  utterly  fearless,  but  I  almost  believe  you  are  made 
of  ice.  I  should  have  been  hot  for  the  heart's  blood 
of  a  man  who  tried  such  a  dastardly  game  on  me," 

"All  my  life  I  have  studied  to  control  myself  and 
never  let  anger  get  the  best  of  my  judgment,"  said 
Frank.  "Sometimes  it  is  a  difficult  thing  to  do,  but 
I  succeed  fairly  well.  It  is  certain  that  I  dislike  this 
fellow  Hartwick  as  thoroughly  as  you  do.  I  know 
that  I  should  have  leaped  on  him  and  strangled  him 
had  I  given  way  to  my  feelings.  I  understood  what 
such  a  thing  would  mean.  Hartwick  had  his  man 
Ditson  with  him,  and  they  would  have  sworn  that  the 
button  came  off  the  foil  by  accident,  and " 

"I  was  there!     I  saw  it  all  and  I  knew  better!" 

"Of  course  you  did,  but  it  would  have  been  our  word 
against  their  word.  If  they  stuck  to  their  story  we 
could  not  prove  that  what  we  said  was  true,  but  they 
could  have  proved  that  I  assaulted  Hartwick  in  the 
gymnasium.  You  see  where  that  would  have  placed 
me," 

"Well,  I  don't  see  how  you  had  time  to  think  of  all 
that  and  hold  yourself  in  check  as  you  did." 

"It  flashed  through  my  brain  in  an  instant.  That 
may  have  been  Hartwick's  little  game.  Perhaps  some 


The  Fencing  Bout.  131 

other  fellow  besides  Ditson — some  friend  of  Hart- 
wick's — was  watching,  and  would  have  come  forward 
to  swear  that  I  had  assaulted  Hartwick  without  provo- 
cation. That  would  not  have  counted  for  much  had  it 
been  out  in  the  town,  but  here  in  the  gym  it  might  have 
been  serious  business  for  me." 

"I  see  that  you  are  right,"  said  Jack,  slowly;  "but 
think  of  it — the  cur  tore  off  the  button  and  struck  at 
your  face!  The  point  of  the  foil  would  have  gone 
through  your  mask  had  it  reached,  and  you  would  have 
been  marked  for  life.  If  it  had  struck  one  of  your 
eyes  you  would  have  been  blinded  or  killed." 

"That  is  true." 

"And  what  I  would  like  to  know  is  how  he  was 
able  to  tear  the  button  off  as  he  did." 

Frank  started. 

"I  should  like  to  know  that,  too!  He  should  not 
have  been  able  to  remove  it  in  that  way  with  his 
fingers." 

"Of  course  not." 

"The  foil  was  fixed  for  that  very  thing  in  advance." 

"It  must  have  been." 

"And  that  is  why  Hartwick  was  so  eager  to  fence 
with  me." 

"Certainly." 

"That  is  right!     He  must  have  planned  this  thing 


1 32  The  Fencing  Bout. 

out  and  prepared  for  it  beforehand.  He  did  not  do  it 
on  the  spur  of  the  moment." 

"Now  you  have  hit  the  truth." 

Frank  was  hastening  to  get  into  his  clothes. 

"If  we  had  captured  that  foil  we  could  have  told 
if  it  had  been  tampered  with,"  he  said.  "We  should 
have  secured  it" 

"We  may  be  able  to  secure  it  now,"  suggested  Jack. 
"We  will  hurry  up  and  nail  Hartwick  before  he  leaves 
the  gym." 

They  hastened  to  get  into  their  clothes,  and  then 
they  lost  no  time  in  making  for  the  little  room  where 
Hartwick  was  dressing.  As  they  did  so  they  saw  Dit- 
son  hurrying  from  the  building,  but  neither  of  them 
knew  he  was  carrying  something  under  his  coat. 

Frank  pushed  open  the  door  of  Hartwick's  dressing- 
room,  which  he  had  not  fastened  after  Ditson's  depart- 
ure, and  entered  boldly. 

Hartwick  was  on  his  feet  in  a  moment,  flushed  with 
anger. 

"What  business  have  you  in  here  till  I  have  finished 
dressing?"  he  cried,  scowling  blackly.  "Get  out!" 

"We  have  business  here,"  said  Frank,  grimly,  "and 
we  will  get  out  when  we  have  finished  it." 

Diamond  came  in  and  closed  the  door,  fastening  it 
behind  him. 


The  Fencing  Bout.  133 

"Oh,  I  think  I  see  your  little  game !"  cried  Hartwick. 
"You  have  waited  till  you  could  get  me  penned  like  this, 
and  you  both  mean  to  jump  on  me.  That  is  quite 
brave!" 

"We  have  come  here  to  demand  that  foil,"  said 
Frank.  "Produce  it!" 

Hartwick  laughed  and  snapped  his  fingers  in  Frank's 
face. 

"Find  it!"  he  cried. 

Diamond  was  looking  around  for  the  article  they  de- 
sired, but  could  see  nothing  of  it. 

"You  had  better  give  it  up,"  declared  Frank. 

"Oh,  had  I?" 

"You  had.  If  it  has  not  been  tampered  with,  there 
will  be  some  excuse  for  your  dastardly  act — the  ex- 
cuse of  uncontrollable  anger." 

"I  seek  no  excuses  for  anything.  The  button  came 
off  accidentally.  I  will  swear  to  that,  and  you  cannot 
prove  to  the  contrary." 

There  was  a  sneer  on  Hartwick's  face.  He  knew 
that  he  could  not  make  them  believe  it  had  been  an 
accident,  but  he  felt  sure  they  could  not  prove  it  was 
anything  else. 

"Did  the  foil  belong  to  the  gymnasium?"  asked 
Diamond. 

"Find  out !"  said  Hartwick. 


134  The  Fencing  Bout. 

"Make  him  give  it  up,  Merriwell !"  grated  Jack.  "I 
would!" 

"You  think  you  would,"  said  Evan.  "You  are  a  fine 
fellow — a  peach!  I  admire  you — nit!  You  are  one 
of  the  sort  of  fellows  who  turn  around  and  lick  the 
hand  that  beats  them.  Merriwell  was  your  enemy  to 
begin  with,  and  he  hammered  the  stuffing  out  of  you 
when  he  knew  you  were  able  to  stand  up  and  fight  him 
fairly  with  your  fists.  Now  you  recognize  him  as 
your  master." 

"I  was  in  the  wrong.  I  forced  Mr.  Merriwell  to 
fight." 

"Bah!  Talk  about  your  Southern  blood!  South- 
erners are  all  curs !" 

Crack !  Quick  as  a  flash  Diamond  struck  Hartwick, 
knocking  him  back  against  the  wall.  He  would  have 
followed  up  the  attack,  but  Frank  caught  hold  of  him. 

"Help!"  shouted  Hartwick.     "Help!  help!" 

"Steady,  Jack — steady!"  commanded  Merriwell. 
"You  are  putting  us  in  a  bad  position.  Hold  on  now." 

"Oh,  let  me  hit  him  again!"  came  through  the  set 
teeth  of  the  Virginian.  "He  insulted  me!  He  called 
all  Southerners  curs !  Let  me  hit  him  just  once  more !" 

It  was  not  easy  for  Merriwell  to  hold  the  hot-blooded 
lad  in  check,  but  he  did  so,  talking  swiftly  and  ear- 
nestly to  quiet  Jack. 


The  Fencing  Bout  135 

"Help!"  shouted  Hartwick  again. 

"It's  done  now,  anyway,  and  you  may  as  well  let  me 
do  it  good,"  said  Jack.  "He  is  going  to  call  witnesses 
and  swear  we  have  assaulted  him  here.  He  can  prove 
it,  for  I  have  left  the  mark  of  my  knuckles  on  his 
cheek." 

"He  will  swear  to  nothing  of  the  sort." 

"Won't  I  ?"  grated  Hartwick.  "Wait  and  see  about 
that!" 

Then  he  shouted  again. 

There  was  the  sound  of  feet  outside  and  a  heavy 
knocking  on  the  door. 

"Let  us  in!     What  is  the  matter  in  there?" 

Merriwell  had  whirled  on  Hartwick  just  as  he  was 
about  to  cry  out  that  he  was  being  assaulted.  Frank 
caught  hold  of  him,  held  him  in  an  iron  grip,  looked 
straight  into  his  eyes,  and  swiftly  said  in  a  very  low 
voice : 

"If  you  say  we  assaulted  you  I  will  expose  the  whole 
deal  of  your  drugging  business  at  Mrs.  Greydon's,  and 
I  can  prove  everything  I  shall  claim.  It  will  mean  ex- 
pulsion for  you  as  sure  as  fate." 

That  was  all  he  said.  He  released  Hartwick,  turned 
about  deliberately,  and  unfastened  the  door. 

"Walk  in,  gentlemen,"  he  coolly  said.  "What  do 
you  want,  anyway?" 


CHAPTER  XII. 
DITSON  "TOUCHES"  HARTWICK. 

There  were  a  number  of  persons  at  the  door,  and 
they  looked  in  curiously.  One  of  them  said : 

"We  thought  we  heard  some  one  calling  for  help 
in  here." 

"You  must  have  been  mistaken,"  smiled  Frank, 
easily.  "I  did  not  call  for  help,  nor  did  Mr.  Diamond. 
Eh,  Jack?" 

"Certainly  I  did  not,"  said  Jack. 

"And  Mr.  Hartwick — did  you  call  for  help,  Mr. 
Hartwick?"  asked  Frank,  his  eyes  meeting  Evan's  full 
and  fair  for  a  moment. 

"No,"  said  Hartwick,  with  an  effort,  "I  did  not  call." 

Merriwell  turned  to  those  at  the  door  with  a  laugh, 
observing : 

"You  see  you  were  mistaken,  gentlemen.  There 
is  no  occasion  why  any  of  us  should  call." 

Some  turned  away  at  once,  while  others  lingered 
a  moment,  still  fancying  things  were  not  so  pacific  in 
the  little  dressing-room  as  they  seemed. 

Some  of  them  knew  there  was  trouble  between  Mer- 


Ditson  "Touches"  Hartwick.         137 

riwell  and  Hartwick,  and  they  wondered  that  the  two 
should  be  together  in  the  dressing-room. 

Frank  closed  the  door  again.  The  moment  he  did 
so  Hartwick  hoarsely  said: 

"What  is  it  now  ?  Are  you  not  ready  to  quit  bully- 
ing me?  Do  you  mean  to  jump  on  me  again?  Don't 
you  try  it!  I  have  stood  too  much  already,  and  this 
time  I  will  do  damage !" 

His  hand  went  around  to  his  hip  in  that  threaten- 
ing manner. 

"What  a  bluff!"  laughed  Frank.  "Why,  if  you 
had  a  revolver  and  dared  to  use  it  you  would  not  have 
waited  so  long.  I'll  go  you  something  that  you  have 
not  got  a  revolver  in  your  pocket." 

"You  know  too  much !  You'll  drop  dead  with  con- 
gestion of  the  brain  some  day!  You  had  better  be 
careful!" 

"You  will  be  lucky  if  you  are  not  hanged  some 
day,"  flashed  Diamond. 

"That's  all  right!  I  am  not  forgetting  you,  Mr. 
John  Diamond,  of  Virginia !  I  have  Merriwell  to  set- 
tle with  first,  and  then  comes  your  turn !" 

"I  wish  you  might  feel  like  making  it  my  turn  first." 

"Don't  worry;  I  will  get  at  you  all  right  enough. 
You  struck  me,  and  I'll  never  forget  it." 

"I  don't  want  you  to  forget  it.     I  want  you  to  re- 


138         Ditson  'Touches"  Hartwick. 

member  that  a  Southerner  promptly  resented  an  insult 
to  himself  and  his  section  of  the  country.  There 
was  a  time  when  I  fancied  that  most  Northerners  were 
like  you,  but  I  have  found  out  the  difference.  I  have 
found  there  are  white  men  and  true  men  in  the  North. 
But  there  are  some  scoundrels — like  yourself." 

"Oh,  keep  it  up — rub  it  in!"  panted  Hartwick.  "I 
will  make  a  record  of  all  these  things !" 

"Do  so.  Nothing  can  give  me  greater  satisfaction. 
If  I  have  an  enemy,  I  want  to  know  it.  If  I  think  a 
man  is  a  scoundrel,  I  am  quite  willing  that  he  should 
know  my  opinion  of  him.  I  wish  to  say  that  you  have 
escaped  mighty  easy  for  the  time,  considering  what  you 
did  to-day.  You  should  thank  fortune,  but  you  should 
not  fancy  the  matter  ends  here.'" 

"I  do  not  propose  to  let  it  end  here.  I  am  going  to 
push  it  myself,  and  you'll  both  be  sorry  you  ever  went 
tip  against  Evan  Hartwick!" 

Frank's  hand  fell  on  Jack's  shoulder. 

"Drop  it  for  the  present,"  he  said.  "What  we  want 
is  that  foil." 

"You  will  not  get  it,"  declared  Hartwick. 

"Will  not?" 

"No." 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  it  is  not  here." 


Ditson  "Touches"  Hartwick.          139 

"Ha!"  cried  Frank.  "Ditson— I  did  not  think  of 
him !  He  was  leaving  the  gym  as  we  came  in  here." 

"And  he  had  the  foil,"  said  Diamond. 

"Of  course.  Hartwick  had  him  smuggle  it  out.  Is 
that  not  the  truth,  Hartwick?" 

Evan  simply  smiled  scornfully. 

"It  is  true !"  exclaimed  Frank.  "I  can  see  it  in  his 
face !  He  has  got  the  best  of  us  in  this,  but  never  mind. 
The  mere  fact  that  he  lost  no  time  in  smuggling  the  foil 
out  of  the  building  is  proof  enough  that  there  was 
crookedness  about  it." 

"True,"  nodded  Jack.  "Of  course  it  was  a  crooked 
piece  of  business,  and  it  was  prepared  for  in  advance." 

Hartwick  had  finished  dressing.  He  took  out  a 
cigarette  and  lighted  it,  leaning  carelessly  against  the 
wall. 

"Go  ahead !"  he  sneered.  "Take  your  time.  I  sup- 
pose it  is  necessary  for  me  to  remain  here  till  you  get 
ready  to  leave." 

"Come,"  said  Frank  as  he  flung  open  the  door. 

Merriwell  and  Diamond  went  out  together.  Hart- 
wick flung  aside  the  cigarette  and  followed  them  a  mo- 
ment later. 

Evan  left  the  gymnasium  and  hurried  to  his  room. 
As  he  had  anticipated,  he  found  Ditson  there,  lounging 
on  a  couch  and  puffing  away  at  a  cigarette. 


140        Ditson  "Touches"  Hartwick. 

In  a  furious  mood,,  Hartwick  burst  into  the  room. 
He  lost  no  time  in  bathing  his  bruised  cheek  in  cold 
water  and  witch  hazel,  and  his  language  was  anything 
but  mild  and  pleasant  as  he  did  so. 

"What's  the  matter,  old  boy?"  lazily  asked  Ditson 
after  a  few  moments. 

With  a  towel  in  one  hand  and  a  bottle  of  witch  hazel 
in  the  other,  Hartwick  came  tearing  out  into  the  room 
where  Ditson  was  reclining. 

"Look!"  he  cried,  pointing  to  his  cheek.  "Do  you 
see  that?" 

"Whew!"  whistled  Roll,  showing  sudden  interest 
"What  is  that?" 

"What  is  it?    Oh,  what  does  it  look  like?" 

"It  looks  as  if  you  had  been  slugged." 

"Well,  that  is  right." 

"What?    You  don't  mean  it?" 

"Don't  I  ?  Oh,  no !  What  do  you  think  is  the  mat- 
ter with  me?  This  is  no  joke,  man !  I  was  hit,  I  tell 
you!" 

"Who  did  it?" 

"Diamond." 

"What?" 

"After  you  left,  Merriwell  and  Diamond  came  into 
the  room  where  I  was  dressing.  They  walked  right  in, 


Ditson  'Touches"  Hartwick.          ni 

for  I  had  carelessly  forgotten  to  fasten  the  door  when 
you  went  out." 

Ditson  sat  up.     He  was  interested  at  last 

"What  were  they  there  for?" 

"Looking  after  that  foil." 

"Then  I  did  not  get  away  with  it  any  too  soon." 

"Not  an  instant.  They  could  not  find  it,  of  course. 
I  had  some  words  with  them,  and  I  was  not  exactly 
complimentary  to  Diamond.  He  got  hot  and  hit  me," 

"And  you  didn't  hit  back?" 

"What  do  you  take  me  for  ?  The  door  was  fastened, 
and  I  was  alone  with  those  two  fellows.  They  could 
have  hammered  the  life  out  of  me.  No,  I  did  not  hit 
back." 

"Well,  I  must  observe  that  this  has  been  a  rather 
warm  afternoon,"  said  Roll.  "You  had  a  frightful 
nerve  to  attempt  that  trick  with  Merriwell,  and  it  was 
dead  lucky  that  I  broke  the  foil  in  two  pieces  and  hus- 
tled out  with  it  under  my  coat.  That  would  be  a 
mighty  bad  piece  of  evidence  against  you,  old  boy." 

"I  suppose  you  are  right.    What  did  you  do  with  it  ?" 

"Oh,  I  took  care  of  it.  You  need  not  worry  about 
that,  for  it  is  quite  safe." 

"Why  didn't  you  bring  it  here?" 

"Here?  What  if  your  enemies  should  find  a  way 
to  search  these  rooms  ?  This  was  no  place  to  bring  it." 


142         Ditson  "Touches"  Hartwick. 

"Search  these  rooms!  How  could  they  do  that? 
No,  that  would  not  be  attempted.  You  should  have 
brought  it  here,  and  I  would  have  disposed  of  it." 

"If  Merriwell  took  a  fancy  to  search  these  rooms,  he 
would  find  a  way  to  do  it.  You  do  not  know  that  fel- 
low yet." 

"I  will  take  chances  on  it.  I  want  you  to  get  that 
foil  and  bring  it  here.  I  shall  not  feel  safe  till  it  is  in 
my  possession,  and  then  I  will  place  it  where  no  one 
can  ever  bring  it  as  proof  against  me." 

"I  don't  blame  you,"  smiled  Ditson  in  a  crafty  man- 
ner. "I  will  bring  it  over,  but  perhaps  I  had  better 
not  try  it  now.  Merriwell  and  Rattleton  might  see 
me,  and " 

"No,  I  would  not  try  it  now,"  hastily  agreed  Hart- 
wick.  "You  must  bring  it  here  in  the  night,  when 
there  is  no  danger  that  you  will  be  seen  and  suspected. 
But  are  you  sure  that  you  have  placed  it  where  they 
will  not  find  it  ?" 

"Yes,  I  am  sure  of  that.     Don't  let  it  worry  you." 

Hartwick  went  back  to  the  running  water,  where  he 
resumed  bathing  his  cheek.  His  heart  was  full  of  bit- 
terness, for  everything  had  gone  against  him  that  after- 
noon. He  cursed  when  he  thought  how  Merriwell  had 
forced  him  to  say  he  had  not  called  for  help  in  the 


Ditson  'Touches"  Hartwick.         143 

dressing-room.  He  felt  that  he  had  quailed  before 
Frank's  threat 

"And  I  do  not  believe  he  can  prove  anything," 
thought  Hartwick.  "Eunice  Darley  is  gone,  and  she 
is  the  only  one  who  could  prove  that  I  drugged  him.  I 
did  not  drug  him!  She  did  it!  She  would  not  dare 
tell  that !  I  was  a  fool !  I  let  Merriwell  bluff  me !  I 
should  have  told  how  I  was  attacked  in  the  dressing- 
room  by  Merriwell  and  Diamond." 

The  thought  that  he  had  weakened  before  Frank  was 
not  one  to  make  him  more  agreeable,  and  he  slammed 
things  about  madly  when  he  came  out  where  Ditson 
was  still  reclining  and  serenely  smoking. 

"You  are  as  cool  as  anything  now,"  he  snarled,  "but 
I  noticed  that  you  did  not  have  much  nerve  at  the 
gym." 

"Oh,  well,  it's  all  over  now,  and  I  have  the  foil,  you 
know,"  smiled  Roll.  "By  the  way,  old  fel,  I'm  broke 
just  now.  Can  you  let  me  have  fifty?" 

Hartwick  looked  sharply  at  Ditson.  He  was 
tempted  to  refuse,  but  he  suddenly  realized  that  it 
might  not  be  well  for  him  to  do  so,  and  so  he  pulled 
out  his  pocketbook. 

"I'll  let  you  have  twenty-five,"  he  said,  and  counted 
out  the  money,  which  Ditson  accepted,  with  a  look  of 
satisfaction. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

YOUTHFUL    LOVE. 

Ditson  had  no  idea  of  giving  up  the  telltale  foil. 
As  he  had  said,  he  had  placed  it  where  it  was  safe,  and 
he  meant  to  keep  it  there. 

Ditson  knew  that  Hartwick  tolerated  him  and  made 
a  companion  of  him  to  a  certain  extent  simply  because 
they  both  hated  Merrlwell,  and  the  junior  thought  it 
possible  the  sophomore  might  be  able  to  aid  him  in  his 
plots  against  Frank. 

Roland  could  see  that  Hartwick  felt  himself  to  be 
of  superior  mold,  and  in  case  Hartwick  dropped  the 
fight  against  Merriwell,  he  might  drop  Ditson  at  the 
same  time. 

It  was  Ditson's  scheme  to  get  a  hold  on  Hartwick  so 
the  latter  would  not  dare  "throw  him  down,"  and  he 
saw  that  the  foil,  which  plainly  showed  it  had  been  tam- 
pered with  to  make  possible  the  least  removal  of  the 
button,  was  the  very  thing  to  give  him  that  hold. 

"Oh,  yes,  I  will  give  it  up  to  Hartwick — nit!"  he 
chuckled  to  himself.  "I  will  work  him  now  for  the 
things  I  want  and  can't  get  through  any  other  chan- 
nel." 


Youthful  Love.  145 

Hartwick  had  plenty  of  money.  It  seemed  that  Dit- 
son  was  also  well  supplied  with  cash,  but,  in  fact,  he 
had  spent  altogether  too  much  in  his  desperate  effort 
to  buy  back  his  lost  standing  with  his  companions  after 
his  open  disgrace. 

Ditson  had  found  that  at  Yale  money  could  not  pur- 
chase true  friendship  and  popularity  for  a  lad  who  had 
shown  himself  a  traitor  to  his  own  class.  But  he  did 
not  give  over  the  attempt  till  he  had  squandered  enough 
to  place  him  in  somewhat  cramped  circumstances. 

Then  he  resolved  to  live  in  a  manner  that  would 
make  others  envy  him,  his  narrow  mind  regarding  that 
as  one  way  of  eventually  becoming  popular.  He  spent 
money  lavishly  on  fine  apartments,  which  he  furnished 
in  a  manner  that  was  gorgeous  if  not  tasty,  and  he 
lost  no  opportunity  to  make  a  spread. 

His  incessant  calls  for  money  had  greatly  annoyed 
his  father,  and  the  parent  had  finally  come  on  to  New 
Haven  to  find  out  just  why  so  much  cash  was  needed 
to  carry  his  son  through. 

That  visit  had  not  been  pleasant  for  Roland,  as  his 
father  promptly  notified  him  that  he  would  have  to  give 
up  his  luxurious  style  of  living  and  get  along  like  hun- 
dreds of  other  lads  who  had  rich  parents  but  did  not 
make  so  much  show.  Then  Roland  was  placed  upon 


146  Youthful  Love. 

an  allowance,  and  was  informed  that  he  could  not  have 
a  dollar  more  than  the  regular  amount. 

The  thought  of  giving  up  his  splendid  apartments 
and  his  swell  manner  of  living  was  gall  and  worm- 
wood to  Ditson.  He  fancied  the  fellows  who  regarded 
him  with  scorn  would  laugh  and  sneer  and  say  he  had 
proved  himself  an  ass. 

So  he  clung  to  the  rooms  and  still  kept  up  his  man- 
ner of  living,  hoping  to  raise  the  wind  some  way  and 
keep  along  in  style.  How  he  was  to  succeed  in  this  he 
could  not  conceive  till  he  became  acquainted  with  Hart- 
wick. 

Immediately  after  being  taken  up  by  Hartwick,  Dit- 
son conceived  the  scheme  of  working  Evan  for  money. 
He  realized  that  in  order  to  do  so  and  keep  it  up  with- 
out having  to  pay  back  what  he  borrowed  he  must  get 
some  sort  of  a  hold  on  the  fellow. 

Thus  it  came  about  that  Ditson  pried  into  Hart- 
wick's  secrets  and  astonished  Evan  by  his  knowledge  of 
certain  unpleasant  matters.  Then  came  the  bout  in  the 
gymnasium  between  Merriwell  and  Hartwick,  after 
which  Ditson  smuggled  out  the  telltale  foil  and  con- 
cealed it.  Then  he  knew  he  had  the  very  hold  on  Hart- 
wick that  he  desired,  and  he  resolved  to  keep  it.  He 
lost  no  time  in  striking  Hartwick  for  a  loan,  a  thing  he 
had  not  dared  do  before. 


Youthful  Love.  147 

At  first  Evan  had  thought  of  refusing  Ditson,  but 
of  a  sudden  he  thought  that  the  foil  was  in  Roll's  pos- 
session, and  not  caring  to  offend  just  then,  he  gave  up 
twenty-five  dollars. 

Hartwick  was  determined  to  secure  and  destroy  the 
foil,  and  he  made  Ditson  promise  over  and  over  to  sur- 
render it. 

Ditson  did  nothing  of  the  kind,  but  within  two  days 
he  struck  Hartwick  for  another  loan.  Then  Evan  be- 
gan to  realize  that  he  was  being  "worked,"  and  he 
raised  objections;  but  the  final  result  was  that  he  let 
Ditson  have  more  money  on  the  latter 's  promise  to 
bring  the  foil  that  night  without  fail. 

Of  course  Ditson  did  not  keep  his  word.  Then 
Hartwick  was  angry  and  he  called  Ditson  some  hard 
names.  Ditson  immediately  assured  Evan  that  he 
would  not  give  up  the  foil  till  he  got  good  and  ready, 
ending  by  sneeringly  asking  the  snared  lad  what  he  was 
going  to  do  about  it. 

At  that  moment  Hartwick  longed  to  strangle  Ditson, 
but  he  dared  not  lay  a  hand  in  violence  on  the  fellow. 
At  last  he  thoroughly  understood  Ditson's  game.  He 
tried  to  force  Roll  to  give  up  the  foil,  but  his  efforts 
were  unavailing. 

With   the  utmost  coolness  and  insolence,   Ditson 


148  Youthful  Love. 

ended  by  demanding  twenty  dollars  of  Hartwick — and 
got  it! 

From  that  time  there  was  no  reason  why  Hartwick 
could  misunderstand  his  position,  and  he  was  desperate 
enough  to  do  almost  anything  to  extricate  himself. 

In  the  meantime  Merriwell  was  acting  as  if  there 
was  not  such  a  person  as  Evan  Hartwick  on  the  face 
of  the  earth,  much  to  the  wonderment  of  Rattleton, 
his  roommate,  and  Jack  Diamond. 

Merriwell  had  declared  that  he  would  square  the 
score  with  Hartwick,  but  Diamond  marveled  much  how 
he  was  going  about  it.  The  Southerner  could  see  no 
way  for  Frank  to  accomplish  the  task,  unless  he  forced 
Hartwick  to  meet  him  in  a  fight  and  beat  him  into  in- 
sensibility. 

And  Diamond  was  forced  to  confess  to  himself  that 
such  a  thing  could  not  give  Merriwell  satisfaction  for 
the  way  he  had  been  treated  by  Hartwick. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  how  to  square  the  score 
was  a  problem  to  Frank. 

His  natural  inclination  was  to  disgrace  Hartwick,  as 
Hartwick  had  attempted  to  disgrace  him.  This  could 
be  done  by  revealing  the  truth  concerning  the  drugging 
of  Frank  at  Mrs.  Greydon's. 

In  order  to  reveal  that,  however,  it  would  be  neces- 
sary to  disclose  that  Hartwick  had  induced  Eunice 


Youthful  Love.  149 

Darley  to  administer  the  drug,  and  such  a  disclosure 
would  bring  shame  and  disgrace  upon  the  girl,  which 
was  something  Frank  had  no  desire  to  do. 

So  it  happened  that  although  Merriwell  had  abso>- 
lute  proof  that  Hartwick  had  plotted  to  publicly  dis- 
grace him  by  drugging  him  and  making  him  appear 
drunk,  he  kept  silent  about  the  matter  to  avoid  telling 
the  entire  truth. 

Frank  wondered  not  a  little  as  to  the  hold  Hartwick 
had  obtained  upon  Eunice,  for  it  had  been  plain  that 
the  fellow  could  compel  her  to  aid  him  in  carrying  out 
his  plans.  That  Evan  and  Eunice  had  known  each 
other  before  coming  to  New  Haven  was  apparent,  but 
that  did  not  solve  the  mystery. 

At  one  time  Frank  had  fancied  that  Eunice  was  in 
love  with  Evan,  but  he  was  forced  to  abandon  that  be- 
lief when  he  saw  her  doing  everything  she  could  to  aid 
Hartwick  in  his  efforts  to  capture  the  affections  of  Win- 
nie Lee. 

There  could  be  no  doubt  that  Hartwick  had  deliber- 
ately planned  to  mark  Frank  for  life  and  Merriwell  re- 
gretted that  he  had  not  been  quick  enough  in  his  effort 
to  obtain  possession  of  the  foil,  which  he  believed  would 
have  shown  the  button  had  been  removed  and  the  point 
of  the  blade  sharpened,  after  which  the  button  was  re- 
stored. 


450  Youthful  Love. 

Had  he  obtained  the  foil,  Frank  could  have  squared 
the  score  with  Hartwick  by  publicly  proving  that  Even 
had  made  such  a  dastardly  attempt. 

Merriwell  was  a  great  believer  in  the  saying  that  a 
scoundrel  will  work  out  his  own  destruction,  and  so  he 
decided  to  let  Hartwick  quite  alone  and  see  what  would 
happen.  When  the  right  opportunity  came  he  would 
seize  it. 

He  saw  Hartwick  and  Ditson  much  together,  and 
something  told  him  that  Evan  was  far  from  happy  in 
the  society  of  his  apparent  friend.  The  look  on  Hart- 
wick's  face  betrayed  that  he  had  very  little  peace  of 
mind. 

In  the  meantime  Frank  was  calling  on  Winnie  Lee 
occasionally,  and  he  was  always  welcome  at  her  home. 
She  had  come  to  believe  in  his  manliness  and  honor, 
and  it  would  take  more  than  a  simple  thing  to  cause  her 
to  doubt  him. 

Frank  regarded  Winnie  as  a  splendid  girl.  He  ad- 
mired her  for  her  beauty,  her  intellect,  and  her  wit. 
She  was  light  hearted  and  buoyant,  with  a  few  girlish 
ways,  and  a  frankness  that  pleased  Frank  more  than  if 
she  had  always  been  conventional  and  dignified. 

One  night  when  Frank  called,  Winnie  said : 

"I  received  a  letter  from  Eunice  to-day,  and  she 
spoke  of  you." 


Youthful  Love.  151 

"Really?"  smiled  Frank.  "Then  she  has  not  for- 
gotten me  ?" 

"If  you  were  to  read  her  letters  you  would  think 
not.  She  speaks  of  you  in  the  highest  terms.  I 
think  she  is  a  charming  girl,  don't  you?" 

"I  certainly  do.     She  has  magnificent  eyes." 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Winnie,  quickly.  "And  she  is 
pretty — don't  you  think?" 

"Rather  pretty." 

"And — and — she  is  nice?" 

"Rather  nice." 

"Nicer  than  most  girls?  Nicer  than  any  other  girl 
you  know  ?" 

"Well,  hardly  that.  There  is  one  little  girl  who  cer- 
tainly pleases  me  much  more  than  Miss  Darley." 

The  color  crept  up  into  Winnie's  cheeks,  and  she  let 
her  lashes  droop,  while  her  foot  kept  tapping  the  floor. 

"What  sort  of  a  girl  is  it  that  you  think  nicer  than 
Eunice?"  she  murmured. 

They  were  sitting  on  the  sofa,  and  happened  to  be 
the  only  ones  in  the  parlor  at  that  moment.  Frank 
drew  a  little  nearer. 

"Well,"  he  said,  "she  is  a  little  rosebud,  with  a  face 
that  is  bewitchingly  pretty,  eyes  that  are  bits  of  blue 
from  heaven,  hair  that  has  caught  the  sunshine  in  its 
meshes." 


152  Youthful  Love. 

"She  must  be  nice,"  Winnie  almost  whispered,  and 
her  head  was  bowed.  "Won't  you — won't  you  tell  me 
who  she  is?" 

"Yes,  if  you  really  wish  me  to." 

"Of  course  I  do." 

"It  is  you,  Winnie — you !" 

She  looked  up  slyly,  her  red  lips  pouting. 

"Be  careful,  sir.     You  are  very  forward!" 

"What's  the  use  of  being  backward  when  one  is 
crazy?"  laughed  Frank.  "If  this  is  a  sample  of  the 
horrors  of  insanity,  I  wouldn't  mind  being  slightly  de- 
mented all  the  time." 

She  was  forced  to  smile  despite  her  efforts  to  appear 
somewhat  indignant. 

"Oh,  I  can't  be  angry  with  you  if  I  try !"  she  cried. 
"You  are  a  nuisance,  Frank  Merriwell,  and  I — I " 

"What?" 

"I  don't  know." 

His  hand  found  hers,  and  he  imprisoned  her  fingers, 
despite  her  movement  to  draw  them  away. 

"Of  course  you  can't  be  angry  with  me,  Winnie,"  he 
said,  softly.  "Why  should  you  be  angry  ?" 

"Oh,  I  don't  know!  After  I  received  that  letter 
from  Eunice,  she  was  so  enthusiastic  about  you  that  I 
thought — I  thought  that — well,  I  was  jealous !"  she  fin- 
ished, blushing  more  than  ever. 


Youthful  Love.  153 

"Jealous  of  Miss  Barley?" 

"Yes,"  confessed  the  girl.  "If  you  knew  the  things 
she  said  of  you!  I  know  she  cares  a  great  deal  for 
you." 

"Well,  this  is  the  most  surprising  news  to  me.  I  had 
a  fancy  that  Miss  Darley  cared  for  quite  another  per- 
son." 

"Who?" 

"Evan  Hartwick." 

"Oh,  no!  She  did  seem  to  care  for  him  before  he 
deceived  her  by  leading  her  to  play  that  dreadful  trick 
on  you  by  telling  her  it  was  a  harmless  joke.  She 
never  seemed  to  be  at  all  in  love  with  him,  but  she  told 
me  what  a  splendid  fellow  he  was,  and  she  seemed  sin- 
cere; but  in  her  letter  she  says  that  even  that  was  de- 
ception, for  which  she  begs  forgiveness." 

Frank  was  greatly  interested. 

"Deception?  If  she  did  not  think  he  was  such  a 
splendid  fellow  why  should  she  resort  to  such  decep- 
tion?" 

"Because  she  was  afraid  of  him." 

"Well,  that  is  most  remarkable.  She  must  have 
been  very  much  afraid  of  him  to  deceive  her  friends  in 
such  a  manner." 

"She  was." 

"I  can't  understand  how  a  nice,  refined  girl  like  Eu- 


i  $4  Youthful  Love. 

nice  Darley  could  be  forced  to  introduce  a  scoundrel  to 
her  friends  and  praise  him  as  a  splendid  fellow.  It 
seems  a  wicked  thing  to  do,  and  I  doubt  that  there  is 
an  excuse  for  it." 

"There  is  an  excuse,  Frank,"  asserted  Winnie,  seri- 
ously. "Hartwick  compelled  her  to  tell  me  all  the  fine 
things  she  said  zA  him.  She  says  so  in  her  letters. 
She  says  he  held  a  secret  concerning  her  family  that 
he  declared  he  would  divulge  if  she  did  not  tell.  He 
frightened  her  into  the  deception." 

"The  wretch !"  cried  Frank.  "I  never  see  him  now 
that  I  do  not  feel  a  powerful  desire  to  strangle  him! 
I  think  he  is  the  greatest  scoundrel  I  ever  knew !" 

"He  is  a  very  bad  fellow,  and  Eunice  still  fears  him. 
She  says  he  will  try  to  get  even  some  day." 

"If  he  ever  harms  her  I'll  wring  his  worthless  neck !" 

"I  am  sure  you  can  do  it,  Frank." 

"Do  it !  I'd  have  done  something  to  him  long  ago 
but  for  you.  You  made  me  promise  not  to  hurt  the 
fellow.  Why  don't  you  release  me  from  that  promise, 
Winnie?  You  must  see  that  you  are  placing  me  in  an 
awkward  position.  Here  this  Hartwick  has  tried  in 
every  conceivable  manner  to  injure  and  disgrace  me, 
and  still  I  am  not  allowed  to  even  things  up  with  him." 

"If  you  did,  and  repeated  anything  Eunice  or  I  have 
told  you,  I  know  it  would  create  trouble  for  both  of  us. 


Youthful  Love.  155 

It  is  Eunice  for  whom  I  care  the  most.  The  secret 
that  he  holds — he  would  divulge  it  in  a  moment." 

"Look  here,  Winnie,  you  do  not  know  all  the  das- 
tardly things  that  villain  has  tried  on  me." 

"Not  all  of  them?" 

"No." 

"What  is  there  I  do  not  know?" 

"His  latest  trick." 

"Tell  me." 

Then  Frank  related  how  Hartwick  had  tried  to  mark 
him  for  life  in  the  fencing  bout.  Winnie  covered 
her  face  with  her  hands,  uttering  a  little  cry  of  horror 
when  Merriwell  explained  how  his  enemy  had  torn  the 
button  from  the  foil  and  then  lunged  straight  at  his 
mask. 

"If  he  had  struck  your  mask — what  then?"  she 
gasped. 

"The  point  of  the  foil  would  have  gone  through  the 
meshes  in  a  moment;  my  cheek  might  have  been  torn 
open,  one  of  my  eyes  destroyed,  or  I  might  have  been 
killed." 

Winnie  grasped  him  and  clung  to  him  with  both 
hands. 

"Oh,  Frank!  Frank!"  she  whispered.  "Just  think 
of  it!  It  is  dreadful!  I  am  trembling  all  over." 


156  Youthful  Love. 

He  put  his  arm  around  her  and  drew  her  close, 
murmuring : 

"It  is  past  now,  Winnie.  I  disarmed  the  wretch, 
and  his  dastardly  attempt  was  a  failure.  Why,  how 
you  tremble,  little  one!  Does  the  thought  of  my  dan- 
ger affect  you  like  that?  I  did  not  think  it  would. 
Then,  Winnie,  dear  little  girl,  you  must  care  for  me 
very  much!" 

Frank  could  feel  her  heart  fluttering  against  his 
breast,  her  soft  cheek  was  pressed  against  his,  and 
their  hands  clung  together. 

A  sudden  silence  fell  upon  them,  a  silence  neither 
cared  to  rudely  shock  with  words.  Just  then  words 
seemed  crude  and  barren  and  expressionless.  Words 
could  not  convey  their  thoughts;  silence  was  far  more 
expressive. 

To  Winnie  Frank  Merriwell  was  a  brave  and  noble 
hero — to  her  he  was  an  old-time  knight  and  she  was  his 
lady  fair.  He  was  gallant  and  true,  ready  to  lay  his 
life  at  her  feet. 

To  Frank  Winnie  Lee  was  one  of  the  sweetest  girls 
he  had  ever  known ;  fair  as  a  flower,  innocent  as  a  bird, 
she  impressed  him  powerfully,  and  made  him  feel  ready 
to  go  through  any  danger,  to  face  anything  for  her 
sake. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

A   CALL  ON    BILLINGS. 

"Stars  in  the  summer  night 
Far  in  yon  azure  deeps, 
Hide,   hide  your   golden   light- 
She  sleeps,  my  lady  sleeps !" 

"Jee  whiskers,  Frank!"  cried  Harry  Rattleton, 
"you're  getting  sentimental  lately.  You  have  taken 
to  poeting  quoetry — I  mean  quoting  poetry,  and  you 
are  linging  sove  songs — hang  it!  I  mean  singing  love 
songs  every  night." 

Frank  laughed  and  lay  down  the  guitar  on  which 
he  had  been  strumming. 

"A  little  sentiment  occasionally  is  good  for  a  fel- 
low," he  declared.  "I  wouldn't  give  a  cent  for  a  chap 
who  did  not  fall  in  love  now  and  then." 

"Now  and  then!  How  many  times  have  you  been 
in  love,  old  man?" 

"Oh,  I  don't  know.     I've  lost  count" 

"Well,  you  deat  the  Butch— I  mean  beat  the  Dutch! 
I  know  you  are  smashed  on  Winnie  Lee  now,  and  I  do 
not  wonder.  She  is  a  gem  of  the  first  water,  and  her 
old  man  has  the  rocks,  which  is  a  point  worth  con- 
sidering." 


158  A  Call  on  Billings. 

"That  wouldn't  make  a  bit  of  difference  with  me,  my 
boy.  If  her  father  did  not  have  a  cent  in  the  world, 
I'd  think  just  as  much  of  her,  providing  she  was  the 
same  Winnie  Lee  she  is  now." 

"Well,  you  have  got  it — bad.  I  did  not  suppose  the 
case  was  quite  so  severe.  But  you  may  recover." 

Just  then  there  was  a  sudden  burst  of  song  outside : 

"Old  Moses  kept  a  flower  stand 

At  the  corner  of  the  street; 
You  put  a  quarter  in  his  hand 

To  get  a  bouquet  sweet. 
He  often  made  his  blooming  trade 

Bring  him  in  lots  of  pelf, 
But  whenever  he  gave  his  plants  a  drink 

He  took  two  drinks  himself." 

Then  came  the  chorus,  in  which  Frank  and  Harry 
joined : 

"Old  man  Moses,  he  sells  posies — 
All  he  knows  is  the  price  of  roses; 
Old  man  Moses,  he  sells  posies — 
Red  as  a  rose  is  Moses'  nose  is." 

Then  a  band  of  laughing,  roistering  fellows  burst 
into  the  room,  crying  out  their  greetings  to  the  two 
occupants  and  making  themselves  quite  at  home,  as  if 
there  was  not  the  least  doubt  in  the  world  about  the 
welcome  they  would  receive. 

"We've  brought  Browning  along,  Merry,"  cried 
Halliday.  "We  found  him  all  alone  in  his  room  shed- 
ding bitter  tears.  Asked  him  what  the  matter  was, 


A  Call  on  Billings.  159 

and  he  said  his  grandfather  was  dead.  Of  course  that 
was  enough  to  cause  us  to  express  our  sympathy,  and 
we  asked  when  the  old  gentleman  passed  away. 
Browning  said  fourteen  years  ago.  Then  we  began 
to  wonder  why  Browning  was  shedding  tears  over  a 
grandfather  who  died  fourteen  years  ago,  and  we  made 
further  inquiries.  Browning  explained  that  his  grand- 
father had  made  an  immense  fortune  in  fire-escapes. 
Then  Robinson  said  he  should  think  Browning  ought 
to  be  laughing  over  that  instead  of  crying,  and  Bruce 
said  he  was  crying  because  the  old  man  had  not  been 
able  to  take  one  of  his  fire-escapes  with  him.  Oh,  say ! 
we  didn't  do  a  thing  to  Browning !" 

"That's  right,"  murmured  Bruce  as  he  stretched  his 
massive  form  on  the  couch.  "I'll  be  in  the  hospital  to- 
morrow. They  threw  everything  in  the  room  at  me, 
and  not  one  of  'em  missed." 

"Speaking  about  death,"  said  Dismal  Jones,  sol- 
emnly, "when  I  die  I  want  to  be  buried  in  a  fireplace." 

"Oh,  you  will  be — you  will  be,"  nodded  Griswold 
with  a  grin. 

"In  the  fireplace?"  asked  Blossom,  scratching  his 
head.  "What  for?" 

"So  my  ashes  may  mingle  with  those  of  the  grate," 
answered  Jones  with  a  convulsive  catching  of  the 
breath. 


160  A  Call  on  Billings. 

"Gentlemen!  gentlemen!  gentlemen!"  palpitated 
Lewis  Little.  "Will  some  one  be  kind  enough  to  open 
the  window  and  give  us  a  little  fresh  air?  It  is  get- 
ting very  thick  in  here." 

"That's  right,"  agreed  Halliday.  "Why,  I  can 
scarcely  catch  my  breath." 

"That  makes  me  think,"  said  Putnam.  "I  have  a 
scheme  if  you  play  ball  next  spring,  Halliday." 

"What  is  it?" 

"Put  molasses  on  your  hands." 

"What  for?" 

"So  you'll  be  able  to  catch  flies." 

"There  are  some  others  who  had  better  try  that," 
murmured  Browning.  "I  think  we  need  two  or  three 
niggers  on  our  team." 

"Niggers?    What  would  they  do?" 

"Catch  fowls." 

Bruce  looked  around  to  see  if  anybody  was  going 
to  throw  something,  and  then  settled  back  with  a  sigh 
of  relief. 

"They  are  coming  pretty  fast,"  laughed  Merriwell. 
" Where  do  you  fellows  strike  all  these  chestnuts? 
Some  of  them  are  pretty  bad." 

"We  know  it,"  confessed  Jones,  his  face  looking 
longer  and  sadder  than  ever.  "We  are  trying  to  im- 
prove them  by  the  company  they  are  in." 


A  Call  on  Billings.  161 

"Oh,  some  of  them  are  not  so  bad,"  protested  Hal- 
liday. 

"What  were  you  telling  me  just  before  we  came 
in,  Griswold  ?"  asked  Robinson.  "You  said  something 
about  attending  a  party  last  night." 

"*I  said  I  was  at  a  private  hop." 

"Oh,  that  was  it." 

"Yes,  I  got  out  of  bed  about  two  o'clock  and  stepped 
on  a  tack." 

"Great  Scott!  it's  another!"  gurgled  Robinson  in 
disgust. 

"It  strikes  me  we  had  better  get  out  into  the  open 
air,"  said  Putnam.  "What  time  is  it  now  ?" 

"Oh,  it  is  not  ten  yet." 

"Well,  let's  all  go  down  to  Morey's,  and  on  our  way 
back  we'll  visit  this  fellow  Billings." 

"What's  that?"  asked  Frank.  "What  are  you  going 
to  do  with  Billings  ?" 

"We  are  going  to  give  him  a  smoke.  You  know  he 
is  a  crank  about  tobacco — doesn't  touch  it  and  doesn't 
want  other  people  to.  He  is  making  himself  rather 
obnoxious  for  a  freshman,  and  we  have  decided  to 
smoke  him  out.  Will  you  and  Rattleton  come  along?" 

"We'll  go,  but  you  know  I  don't  smoke." 

"Well,  you  can  fight  if  we  get  into  a  row  with  the 
freshmen.  The  freshies  are  getting  altogether  too  in- 


162  A  Call  on  Billings. 

dependent  lately,  and  we  may  have  to  show  them  where 
they  belong." 

The  prospect  of  an  old-time  rush  or  riot  was  enough 
to  make  Frank  eager  to  go,  and  he  quickly  announced 
his  willingness. 

Some  one  rolled  Browning  off  the  couch  to  the  floor, 
and  he  felt  grieved  over  such  treatment. 

"Just  see  how  much  farther  I  must  go  to  get  to  my 
feet,"  he  sighed.  "Such  a  waste  of  energy  is  some- 
thing awful  to  contemplate.  If  all  the  energy  there  is 
wasted  in  the  world  in  one  day  should  be  concen- 
trated  " 

"Smother  him,  somebody!"  cried  Halliday.  "He's 
struck  that  strain,  and  he  is  a  crank  on  it.  He'll  never 
stop  unless  he  is  choked  off." 

Browning  got  upon  his  feet  with  an  effort. 

"Young  men,"  he  said,  solemnly,  "you  are  very 
thoughtless  and  frivolous.  If  you  had  enjoyed  the 
honor  of  being  dropped  a  class,  as  I  have,  you  would 
be  much  more  sober  and  sedate.  It  really  pains  me 
when  I  see  you  so  careless  and  unthinking.  But  I 
know  that  some  of  you  have  heads  into  which  it  would 
be  impossible  to  drive  a  serious  thought  with  a  sledge 
hammer.  Excuse  my  emotion.  I  feel  these  things 
deeply,  as  Griswold  said,  when  he  stepped  on  the  tack.1* 


A  Call  on  Billings.  163 

He  took  out  his  handkerchief  and  blew  his  nose  with 
a  blast  like  a  horn,  and  then  wandered  out. 

The  whole  party  descended  to  the  street.  The  night 
was  cold  and  clear.  There  was  a  moon,  and  the  sky 
was  studded  with  stars.  The  air  was  still,  and  all 
sounds  seemed  unusually  distinct.  • 

From  some  point  came  the  music  of  a  piano  and  vio- 
lin. Singing  and  laughter  could  be  heard.  The  win- 
dows were  bright  with  lights. 

Merriwell  struck  into  a  song,  "Kathleen,"  and  the 
others  joined  in  the  chorus : 

"Kathleen,  so  fair  and  bright, 
Star  of  eve  and  darkest  night. 
'Mid  shady  lanes  and  meadows  green 
I  long  to  rove  with  sweet  Kathleen." 

Windows  went  up  here  and  there  that  the  occupants 
of  the  rooms  might  listen  to  the  singing.  In  the  party 
were  four  who  had  splendid  voices,  and  "Kathleen" 
was  followed  by  "Jingle  Bells,"  "Rosalie,"  "Upidee," 
and  "Bingo." 

It  was  a  merry  party  of  bright-faced,  honest-looking 
young  fellows  who  went  down  to  Morey's,  where  they 
lingered  till  near  eleven. 

Finally  it  was  decided  that  the  hour  to  visit  Mr.  Bill- 
ings had  arrived,  and  they  sought  out  the  house  in 
which  he  was  stopping. 


164  A  Call  on  Billings. 

It  happened  that  Billings  was  in  the  very  house 
where  Frank  and  Harry  had  roomed  during  their 
freshman  year.  Further  than  that,  he  had  the  same 
room  the  boys  had  occupied,  so  they  were  thoroughly 
familiar  with  "the  lay  of  the  land." 

The  entire  party  was  provided  with  masks,  and  these 
were  adjusted  just  before  the  house  was  reached. 
Then  Frank  took  the  lead,  ascended  the  steps,  and,  to 
his  satisfaction  and  surprise,  found  the  door  slightly 
ajar. 

"Oh,  this  is  a  cinch !"  he  exclaimed.  "We'll  get  in 
on  him  before  he  knows  anything  about  it." 

But  they  did  not  As  they  started  to  ascend  the 
stairs  a  freshman  started  to  come  down.  He  saw  them 
with  their  masks  over  their  faces,  and  he  fled,  wildly 
shrieking : 

"Lambda  Chi !     Lambda  Chi !" 

"Come  on,  fellows !"  called  Frank.  "That  will  wake 
'em  all  up.  We'll  make  a  rush  for  it." 

Up  the  stairs  they  charged. 

Billings'  door  was  near  the  head  of  the  first  flight. 
He  had  heard  the  cries  and  noise,  and  he  sought  to  fas- 
ten the  door,  which  had  been  open  slightly. 

As  the  door  was  slammed  to  Frank  hurled  himself 
against  it,  and  it  flew  open  again,  flinging  Billings 
across  the  room. 


A  Call  on  Billings.  165 

"Good-evening,  Mr.  Billings,"  said  Merriwell,  coolly. 
"We  thought  we  would  give  you  a  call,  don't  you 
know." 

Billings  caught  up  a  chair  and  swung  it  above  his 
head. 

"Get  out!"  he  cried,  his  face  very  pale.  "Get  out, 
or  I  will  break  your  heads!  Be  lively!" 

"Now  don't — don't  do  anything  so  brash,  my  dear 
sir,"  said  Frank  in  a  soft  and  soothing  voice  as  he 
walked  directly  up  to  the  frightened  freshman  and  took 
the  chair  from  his  hand.  "Why,  it  would  be  very  rude 
of  you  to  break  a  person's  head,  don't  you  know." 

Billings  was  dazed  for  a  moment  by  Frank's  nerve. 
Then  he  gave  a  yell  and  struck  at  Frank,  who  dodged 
the  blow.  The  next  moment  the  freshman  lunged  for 
the  window,  threw  it  open,  and  tried  to  get  out. 

"My  dear,  dear  sir!"  cried  Frank  as  he  caught  Bill- 
ings by  the  tail  of  his  coat  and  drew  him  back,  "is  this 
the  way  you  receive  and  welcome  visitors  who  have 
come  to  make  a  pleasant  little  call  on  you  ?  Sit  down. 
Be  calm.  Close  the  door,  boys,  and  pile  everything 
you  can  against  it.  You'll  need  to  do  it,  for  the 
freshies  will  be  clamoring  for  admittance  directly." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

A     WILD     NIGHT. 

It  seemed  that  in  everything  in  which  he  was  con- 
cerned Merriwell  became  the  natural  leader.  He  had 
a  cool,  quiet  way  of  doing  things — a  way  those  who 
knew  him  admired,  but  found  difficult  to  imitate. 

Billings,  however,  had  no  thought  of  submitting 
quietly,  and  he  made  a  desperate  struggle  to  get  out  by 
the  door  before  they  could  close  and  fasten  it.  He 
was  restrained,  however,  and  when  he  continued  to 
struggle  and  make  things  unpleasant  cords  were  pro- 
duced and  he  was  firmly  tied  to  a  chair. 

"Oh,  you  fellows  will  have  to  settle  for  this!"  he 
gasped.  "My  father'll  never  see  me  abused  this  way 
without  doing  something!" 

"Your  father  is  not  present,  Mr.  Billings,  so  he  is 
spared  the  spectacle,"  said  Frank.  "Now  sit  still,  like 
a  little  man.  We're  not  going  to  take  your  life  with- 
out giving  you  a  chance  to  say  a  word  for  yourself." 

"You  seem  very  high  strung,  Mr.  Billings,"  said 
Browning,  who  was  aroused  somewhat  now  that  the 
sport  had  begun.  "Your  nerves  lie  too  near  the  sur- 


A  Wild  Night.  167 

face.  We  have  just  come  in  to  have  a  little  social  talk 
with  you." 

"That's  all,"  nodded  Frank.  "Brace  the  table 
against  the  door,  fellows.  Pull  out  his  trunk  and  bed 
and  make  them  useful.  Put  the  dresser  into  the  barri- 
cade. If  we  had  a  few  nails  we  could  make  it  solid." 

The  lads  worked  as  if  they  were  preparing  for  an 
assault  by  wild  Indians,  and  it  did  not  take  them  long 
to  barricade  the  door  as  well  as  possible  with  the  furni- 
ture and  other  stuff  at  their  command. 

"Now,  gentlemen,"  said  Frank,  "we  will  have  a  little 
talk  with  our  friend  Mr.  Billings." 

"You  are  no  friend  of  mine !"  cried  Billings.  "None 
of  you  is  a  friend  of  mine !" 

The  boys  produced  cigarettes  and  cigars  and  began 
to  light  up.  Two  or  three  of  them  had  purchased  some 
very  rank  cigars  for  that  particular  occasion.  They 
gathered  close  about  Billings  and  began  blowing  smoke 
in  his  face,  without  seeming  to  do  so  intentionally. 

Billings  immediately  grew  pale.  The  slightest  smell 
of  a  cigarette  made  him  feel  quite  ill,  and  the  cigarette 
smoke,  mingled  with  the  smoke  of  the  rank  cigars,  was 
something  awful. 

"I  wish  you  wouldn't  smoke !"  gasped  the  prisoner 
after  a  moment.  "I  can't  stand  it,  you  know — really  I 
can't!" 


168  A  Wild  Night 

"You  do  not  seem  to  enjoy  tobacco  smoke,"  said 
Griswold.  "Now,  you  should  get  used  to  it,  Mr. 
Billings." 

"That  is  quite  right,  Mr.  Billings,"  nodded  Frank. 
"You  will  observe  I  do  not  smoke,  but  I  have  accus- 
tomed myself  to  it,  so  I  do  not  mind  it  at  all." 

"What  are  your  views  on  tobacco  smoking,  Mr.  Bil- 
lings?" inquired  Browning,  who  had  a  cigar,  and  who 
blew  into  the  poor  fellow's  face  a  whiff  of  smoke  that 
would  have  strangled  a  cat.  "I  understand  you  have 
very  pronounced  ideas." 

"It  is  a  crime — a  positive  crime!"  cried  Billings, 
fiercely. 

"Will  you  be  good  enough  to  explain  the  difference 
between  a  positive  crime  and  a  negative  crime,  sir?" 

"Oh,  it  is  a  filthy  habit!  I  can't  understand  how 
human  beings  can  indulge  in  it !" 

"It  is  quite  likely  there  are  many  things  you  do  not 
understand  at  present,  Mr.  Billings,"  chirped  Gris- 
wold, gravely.  "When  you  get — — " 

Bang!    A  heavy  knock  on  the  door. 

"Open  this  door !" 

Bang!  bang!  bang! 

The  freshmen  had  arrived. 

Not  one  of  the  sophomores  gathered  around  Bil- 
lings turned  his  head  or  paid  the  slightest  attention  to 


A  Wild  Night.  169 

the  knocking  on  the  door.  But  it  was  plain  that  they 
smoked  all  the  harder,  and  Billings'  face  could  scarcely 
be  seen  through  the  thick  cloud  of  rank  smoke  that 
seemed  to  cling  about  his  head. 

"Break  in  the  door,  boys — break  it  in!"  cried  Bill- 
ings, but  his  lungs  filled  with  smoke,  and  he  began  to 
cough  and  strangle  in  a  distressing  manner. 

Tears  ran  down  Billings'  cheeks,  he  gasped  for 
breath,  he  choked. 

"Don't  you  think  you  might  become  accustomed  to 
smoke  after  a  time  if  you  were  to  live  in  it  a  while  ?" 
asked  Halliday. 

"I  wouldn't  —  live  —  in  it !  I'd  die !"  gasped  the 
freshman. 

"That  is  a  very  foolish  notion  you  have  in  your 
head,"  declared  Merriwell.  "Look  at  me/'  he  went 
on,  while  the  hammering  on  the  door  became  louder 
and  louder.  "A  person  can  become  accustomed  to 
almost  anything.  To  some  constitutions  smoke  seems 
really  beneficial." 

"Oh,  I  can't  stand  this  much  longer!"  Billings  al- 
most sobbed. 

When  he  sobbed  he  caught  his  breath,  and  that 
drew  more  smoke  into  his  lungs.  Then  he  had  another 
violent  fit  of  coughing,  and  nearly  fell  over,  although 
tied  fast  to  the  chair. 


iyo  A  Wild  Might. 

The  boys  puffed  away  faster  and  faster,  and  the 
smoke  became  thicker  and  thicker.  It  almost  seemed 
that  it  could  be  cut  with  a  knife.  They  laughed  and 
coughed  and  groaned.  They  did  not  mind  that  a 
furious  crowd  of  freshmen  was  making  fierce  efforts 
to  bang  down  the  door. 

"Please  do  not  smoke  any  more!"  pleaded  Billings. 

"Will  you  ever  say  that  tobacco  is  not  fit  to  use?" 

"No!  no!" 

"Will  you  ever  say  smoke  is  fit  to  cure  hams  and 
herrings  only?" 

"Never!" 

"Will  you  point  the  finger  of  scorn  at  cigarette 
smokers  ?" 

"No!  no!" 

"Will  you  look  at  the  smoker  of  a  cigar  as  if  he  was 
not  fit  to  be  on  the  earth?" 

"N-no!" 

"Swear  it!" 

"Oh,  I  will  do  anything  you  ask  if  you  will 
stop " 

Bang!  crash!  smash!  The  door  was  forced  at  last, 
and  a  furious  gang  of  freshmen  came  howling  into  the 
room,  climbing  over  the  furniture,  seeming  to  literally 
thirst  for  the  blood  of  the  sophs. 


A  Wild  Night.  171 

"Up,  boys — up  and  at  'em !"  rang  out  Frank  Merri- 
well's  order. 

The  sophs  met  the  freshmen,  and  there  was  a  lively 
fight  for  a  few  moments,  which  resulted  in  the  retreat 
of  the  attacking  party. 

"Follow  them  up!"  commanded  Frank.  "We  must 
get  out  of  the  house  now  if  we  hope  to  get  out  of  it 
alive." 

Out  of  the  room  charged  the  sophs,  and  there  was 
a  fierce  fracas  in  the  hall  and  on  the  stairs.  The  sopho- 
mores clung  together  in  a  body,  and  forced  their  way 
down  to  the  front  door. 

But  when  they  reached  the  street  they  found  fresh- 
men gathering  from  all  quarters.  It  was  plain  that  a 
general  alarm  had  been  sent  out,  and  the  freshies  had 
rallied  to  do  up  the  enemy. 

"We  are  in  for  a  red-hot  time,"  drawled  Browning. 
"We  had  better  get  off  York  Street  with  the  least  pos- 
sible delay." 

They  quickly  formed  in  a  compact  mass  for  a  rush, 
and  then  they  went  at  the  freshmen  fiercely.  They 
broke  through,  but  there  was  a  running  fight  all  the 
way  to  the  campus,  where  it  became  a  wild  scramble 
on  the  part  of  the  freshmen  to  get  at  the  sophomores 
and  give  them  such  a  trouncing  as  they  could  never 
forget. 


172  A  Wild  Night. 

It  was  one  of  the  wildest  mobs  seen  at  Yale  since 
the  old  fighting  days.  It  was  not  an  ordinary  rush. 

Then  came  the  cry  of  "Faculty !  Faculty !" 

There  was  a  sudden  scampering  and  scattering. 
Two  men  in  long  black  coats  were  seen  coming  across 
the  campus.  One  of  the  sophs  was  hurt  so  he  could 
not  run  very  fast,  and  he  turned  and  staggered  into 
the  hands  of  two  policemen. 

"Frank!"  palpitated  a  voice  in  Merriwell's  ear  as 
Rattleton  came  running  to  his  side,  "Diamond  is 
pinched !" 

"What's  that?"  cried  Frank,  stopping  in  his  flight. 
"You  don't  mean  that  he  is  arrested?" 

"Yes,  he  is  arrested.     Two  cops  have  nabbed  him !" 

"Great  Scott!  It  will  go  hard  with  him  if  he  is 
locked  up!" 

"He  will  be  expelled!" 

"Sure !  Where  are  they  ?  Quick — call  the  fellows ! 
We  must  save  him!  We  must  get  him  away  from 
them!" 

"This  way!"  fluttered  Harry,  and  Frank  followed 
his  roommate  at  a  run. 

In  a  moment  they  saw  the  officers,,  who  were  hold- 
ing the  prisoner  for  the  inspection  of  the  two  men  in 
long  black  coats.  A  crowd  had  gathered  at  a  little  dis- 


A  Wild  Night.  17* 

tence.  The  two  professors  were  Such  and  Walters. 
Such  was  near-sighted. 

"Come,  fellows,"  cried  Frank  to  the  swarming  lads. 
"We  must  take  him  away  instantly !" 

They  understood  and  they  answered  with  a  cheer. 
There  was  a  great  rush  at  Frank's  heels,  and  he  led 
another  charge. 

The  policemen  drew  their  clubs.  Professor  Such 
had  just  stooped  to  peer  into  the  face  of  the  captive, 
when  Frank  bowled  him  over.  As  Such  went  down 
he  clutched  at  empty  air,  caught  the  cap  from  Frank's 
head,  and  held  it. 

A  second  later  the  crowd  was  fighting  with  the  two 
officers. 

It  was  short,  sharp  work,  and  Diamond  was  rescued. 
Two  policemen  could  do  nothing  with  that  wild  mobr 
for  freshmen  and  sophomores  had  joined  in  the  rescue. 
The  officers'  clubs  were  taken  from  them,  and  their 
helmets  were  banged  over  their  eyes,  and  they  were  left 
in  a  condition  of  almost  complete  wreck. 

"I  would  give  something  to  know  what  became  of 
that  cap  I  was  wearing,"  said  Frank  when  he  and 
Harry  were  in  their  room  once  more. 

"When  did  you  lose  it?"  asked  Harry,  who  was  bath- 
ing his  face,  which  bore  marks  of  the  fracas. 


174  A  Wild  Night. 

"That  is  what  I  am  trying  to  remember,  Great 
Scott!" 

"What's  the  matter?" 

"I  know  when  I  lost  it" 

"When?" 

"In  the  charge  on  the  professors  and  the  officers.** 

"Well?" 

"I  bowled  over  Professor  Such  just  as  he  was  ad- 
justing his  glasses  to  take  a  look  at  Jack.  As  he  went 
down  I  felt  him  snatch  my  cap.  There  was  no  time 
to  get  it  back  then,  and " 

"Your  funeral's  to-morrow !"  sung  Harry,  dolefully. 

"It  begins  to  look  that  way  in  case  he  held  fast  to 
the  cap,"  admitted  Frank,  seriously.  "I  may  be  in  a 
bad  scrape,  old  man.  It  was  an  assault  on  a  pro- 
fessor." 

Harry  looked  frightened. 

"Jove!  Frank!"  he  gasped;  "what  if  you  should 

be  Yaled  from  expellage — I  mean  expellaged  from 

You  know  what  I  mean!  Murder!  What  would 
'Umpty-eight  do?" 

"It  will  be  most  unfortunate  for  me  if  he  hung  to 
that  cap,"  said  Frank,  who  understood  what  it  might 
mean.  "Come,  Harry." 

"What  are  you  going  to  do?" 

"Go  out  and  look  for  it."  . 


A  Wild  Night.  175 

They  went  out  to  the  spot  where  the  encounter  had 
taken  place,  but  not  a  sign  of  the  cap  did  they  find.  It 
was  gone,  and  more  than  ever  Frank  feared  that  he  was 
in  a  bad  scrape, 

"Old  Such  is  pretty  severe  sometimes,  and  he  is  likely 
to  demand  that  the  fellow  who  upset  him  be  punished," 
said  Frank  when  they  were  back  in  the  room  again.  "I 
fear  I  am  in  for  it,  Harry." 

Harry  was  afraid  so,  too,  but  he  did  his  best  to  cheer 
Frank  up,  although  he  could  not  appear  very  cheerful 
himself. 

"If  you  are  expelled  I'll  leave,  too,"  he  finally  de- 
clared. 

"That  would  be  foolish,"  Frank  gravely  declared. 
"You  will  do  nothing  of  that  sort.  But  I  may  get  out 
of  it  all  right.  I  wonder  what  cap  I  wore?  All  my 
caps  have  my  initials  in  them. 

He  began  to  look  around,  and  it  was  not  very  long 
before  he  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise. 

"What  is  it?"  asked  Harry. 

"My  caps  are  all  here." 

"Then  you  did  not  lose  a  cap,  after  all  ?" 

"Yes,  I  did." 

"How  is  that?" 

*'I  lost  a  cap,  but  it  was  not  one  of  my  own.     See 


176  A  Wild  Night. 

these  old  scalps,"  and  he  brought  out  a  number  of  caps 
in  his  hands. 

"Why,  yes;  those  are  the  ones  we  swiped  off  the 
sophomores  when  we  were  freshmen." 

"Exactly,  my  boy." 

"I  think  I  begin  to  understand.  The  cap  you  lost 
was " 

"One  of  the  scalps  we  captured  in  our  freshmen 
days." 

Harry  whistled,  a  look  of  great  relief  coming  to  his 
face. 

"Jingoes !  but  you  are  lucky !"  he  cried.  "That  lets 
you  out  of  this  scrape  without  a  struggle." 

Frank  shook  his  head. 

"What  is  good  luck  for  me  may  be  hard  luck  for 
some  other  chap." 

"How  is  that?" 

"What  if  the  other  fellow's  name  was  in  the  cap?" 

"I  never  thought  of  that !  Then  the  other  fellow  will 
have  to  get  out  of  the  scrape  the  best  way  he  can.  If 
he  can  prove  an  alibi,  he  is  all  right.  Can't  you  tell 
whose  cap  it  was?" 

"I  don't  know.  I  marked  the  caps  once  by  pinning 
the  names  of  the  owners  from  whom  they  were  cap- 
tured inside  each  of  them,  but  some  of  the  slips  have 
been  lost,  so  it  is  doubtful  if  I  can  tell  all  of  them  now. 


A  Wild  Night.  177 

I  must  have  taken  that  out  from  the  lot  and  had  it 
around  the  room  for  some  reason.  When  the  gang 
was  ready  to  start  I  did  not  notice  the  difference,  and  I 
wore  the  cap  of  some  unlucky  chap  who  may  be  raked 
over  the  coals  for  assaulting  Professor  Such." 

"Well,  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  would  be  worried  by  that  I 
You  are  well  out  of  a  nasty  scrape,  so  go  to  bed  and 
top  like  a  sleep — I  mean  sleep  like  a  top." 

Harry  tore  off  his  clothes  and  was  soon  in  bed. 
Frank  followed  his  example,  but  took  considerable  time 
about  it.  He  was  worrying  over  the  cap,  fearing  he 
had  unwittingly  gotten  some  other  fellow  into  a  bad  fix. 

When  Frank  got  to  bed  he  found  it  difficult  to  get 
asleep,  which  was  something  remarkable  for  him.  He 
would  have  slept  better  had  he  known  it  was  his  own 
cap  he  had  lost 


CHAPTER  XVI. 
AN   ENEMY'S    CAP. 

In  the  morning  another  search  was  made  for  the  cap, 
but  it  was  not  found. 

The  affair  of  the  previous  night  made  a  topic  for 
conversation  among  the  students,  and  it  came  out  that 
not  a  few  juniors,  fellows  who  had  come  out  to  see  the 
sport,  were  in  the  rush  to  rescue  the  captive  from  the 
officers. 

Much  indignation  at  the  action  of  the  policemen 
was  expressed.  It  was  said  to  be  an  outrage.  As  if 
the  college  lads  did  not  have  a  right  to  engage  in  a  little 
fight  among  themselves  without  being  arrested ! 

Morning  found  every  man,  freshman,  sophomore 
and  junior,  loyal  to  Yale  and  each  other.  No  matter 
if  they  had  fought  against  each  other  the  night  before, 
the  action  of  the  officers  was  enough  to  make  them 
ready  to  forget  that  and  fight  for  each  other  in  a  mo- 
ment. 

The  report  got  around  that  Professor  Such  had 
been  seriously  injured.  He  had  been  knocked  down 
and  trampled  upon  by  the  mob  that  was  fighting  with 
the  policemen. 


An  Enemy's  Cap.  179 

Later  on  there  was  another  rumor.  It  was  said  that 
the  injured  professor  claimed  he  had  been  assaulted  by 
one  of  the  students.  He  knew  the  one  who  did  it ;  he 
had  proof  against  the  fellow. 

The  boys  wondered  what  there  could  be  in  these  ru- 
mors. They  discussed  them  among  themselves. 

"Hey,  Rattleton,"  called  Lewis  Little,  "what  do  you 
know  about  this  affair?" 

"What  affair?"  asked  Harry  as  he  joined  the  knot 
of  sophs  on  the  campus. 

"Why,  this  Professor  Such  affair.  You  know  he 
has  been  hurt — says  he  was  knocked  down  by  one  of 
the  students.  What  do  you  know  about  it?" 

"Not  a  blooming  thing,"  declared  Rattleton,  grimly. 
"How  should  I  know  anything  about  it?" 

"Oh,  if  it  is  true,  somebody  must  know.  Old  Such 
is  a  busybody  and  a  meddler,  but  I  do  not  think  there  is 
a  fellow  who  would  deliberately  strike  the  old  man. 
He  seems  to  think  so,  just  the  same,  and  it  is  said  he 
has  some  kind  of  proof  against  the  chap  who  did  it. 
You  and  Merriwell  led  the  rush  on  the  officers,  and  I 
thought  it  possible  you  knew  something  about  it." 

"Well,  I  do  not  know  a  thing  about  it,"  lied  Harry, 
who  was  thinking  of  Frank,  and  who  could  not  have 
been  induced  to  make  such  a  statement  had  he  felt  that 
he  was  in  danger  himself,  and  not  Merriwell. 


180  An  Enemy's  Cap. 

Frank  did  not  care  to  be  questioned,  and  so  he  kept 
out  of  the  way,  remaining  in  his  room  nearly  all  day, 
save  when  he  went  to  recitations. 

Near  night  Rattleton  broke  in  on  Frank  with  a  wild 
whoop  that  would  have  done  credit  to  a  Sioux  Indian. 
He  danced  wildly  about  the  room,  upsetting  things 
generally,  and  finally  dropped  on  his  couch,  laughing 
till  it  seemed  that  he  was  in  danger  of  losing  his  breath. 

Frank  gazed  at  his  friend  in  astonishment,  finally 
asking : 

"What  has  struck  you  now,  old  man?  It  must  be 
something  funny." 

"It  is!"  screamed  Harry.  "Oh,  ha!  ha!  ha!  It  is 
the  richest  thing  you  ever  heard!  You  will  laugh 
dying — I  mean  die  laughing  when  I  tell  it  to  you !" 

"If  it  is  so  dangerous,  possibly  I  hadn't  better  hear 
it" 

"Oh,  but  you  must!  Ha!  ha!  ha!  Ho!  ho!  ho! 
Why,  if  you  had  planned  it  all  out  yourself,  you  could 
not  have  done  it  so  well !  Rich !  Why,  it's  a  corker !" 

"If  I  had  planned  it  ?     What  do  you  mean  by  that  ?" 

"Just  that!  Oh,  he!  he!  he!  You'll  never  recover 
when  I  tell  you !  You'll  drop  right  down  on  the  floor 
and  roll  over  and  over !  I  hardly  dare  tell  you  for  fear 
you  will  laugh  yourself  into  an  ireious  sillness — I  mean 
serious  illness." 


An  Enemy's  Cap.  181 

Frank  wondered  what  in  the  world  it  could  be  that 
was  so  very  funny.  And  how  was  he  concerned  in  it? 
The  affair  of  the  previous  evening — the  cap! 

Merriwell  caught  hold  of  Rattleton  and  gave  him  a 
shake. 

"Tell  me  all  about  it !  Is  it  something  conected  with 
last  night?" 

Harry  could  not  speak,  for  he  was  still  choked  with 
laughter,  and  his  face  was  crimson.  He  nodded  wildly 
and  roared  again. 

Merriwell's  curiosity  was  fully  aroused.  What  could 
there  be  that  was  so  remarkably  funny  about  it? 

"Here,  you  lunatic !"  he  cried,  shaking  Harry  again, 
"stop  that  laughing  and  tell  me  what  it  is !" 

With  a  mighty  effort,  Harry  got  into  condition  to 
talk. 

"You  couldn't  have  done  it  better  if  you  had  planned 
it  all  out,"  he  again  declared.  "Do  you  know  whose 
cap  it  was  that  Professor  Such  captured  from  your 
head  last  night  ?" 

"Of  course  I  do  not !     Whose  cap  was  it  ?" 

"Oh,  ha!  ha!  ha!  It  belonged  to  Evan  Hartwick! 
Ha !  ha !  ha !  Oh !  my !  what  a  joke — what  a  joke !" 

Merriwell's  heart  gave  a  quick  leap. 

Hartwick — Hartwick,   his  enemy!     Hartwick  had 


i82  An  Enemy's  Cap. 

owned  the  cap!  Hartwick's  name  must  have  been  on 
the  cap,  for  the  name  of  the  owner  was  known. 

A  great  surge  of  exultation  swept  over  Frank  Mer- 
riwell.  Without  planning  to  do  so,  he  had  struck  his 
enemy  a  heavy  blow.  Of  course  he  did  not  know  what 
would  be  done  about  the  matter,  but  he  felt  that  Hart- 
wick  was  in  a  serious  scrape. 

Hartwick  might  be  expelled  from  college.  Surely 
that  would  be  the  heaviest  blow  that  could  fall  upon 
him. 

"It  was  not  planned,"  thought  Frank.  "I  did  not 
put  up  the  job  on  the  fellow.  I  did  not  know  it  was 
his  cap.  If  he  cannot  prove  that  he  had  nothing  to  do 
with  the  affair,  let  him  take  his  medicine !  Why  should 
I  bother  myself  about  a  fellow  who  would  exult  over 
me  if  I  were  in  the  same  fix?  Why  should  I  bother 
myself  over  a  fellow  who  had  done  everything  in  his 
power  to  injure  me — to  disgrace  me?  I  will  not!  I 
have  squared  the  score  with  him  without  knowing  I 
was  doing  so!  I  have  evened  up  matters  between  us !" 

Harry  stopped  laughing  and  stared  at  his  friend, 
whose  face  wore  a  strange  look  of  exultation  and  doubt. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  you?"  cried  Rattleton. 
"What  are  you  looking  so  glum  about?  Why  don't 
you  laugh  ?" 

"I  fail  to  see  anything  humorous  in  the  situation. 


An  Enemy's  Cap.  183 

It  is  necessary  for  me  to  see  something  funny  before  I 
can  laugh." 

"Funny  Whee  jiz — no,  jee  whiz !  what  do  you  con- 
sider something  funny?  If  this  is  not  a  funny  deal, 
then  I  don't  know  beans!  Why,  I  nearly  boiled  my 
burster — I  mean  burst  my  boiler  holding  in  till  I  could 
get  under  cover  where  I  could  laugh." 

"You  seem  to  look  at  it  in  a  different  light  from 
what  I  do." 

"I  can't  see  that  there  is  but  one  way  of  looking  at 
it.  It  is  a  horse  on  Hartwick.  They'll  pull  him  up  be- 
fore the  faculty — I'll  bet  they  will!" 

"And  he  may  be  expelled." 

"I  wouldn't  wonder  a  bit.  Ha!  ha!  ha!  You 
ought  to  laugh,  Frank.  He  is  the  chap  who  drugged 
you  at  Mrs.  Greydon's.  He  is  the  chap  who  tried  to 
drug  you  on  Manhattan  Field.  He  is  the  chap  who 
tried  to  mark  you  for  life  in  the  gymnasium." 

"Surely  I  know  all  this." 

"And  you  do  not  so  much  as  smile  a  crack — I  mean 
crack  a  smile." 

Rattleton  was  astonished.  He  had  expected  Frank 
to  laugh  over  the  misfortune  of  his  sneaking  enemy, 
but  Merriwell  did  not  seem  in  the  least  inclined  to 
mirth. 

"If  he  had  done  the  same  things  to  me  and  was  in 


184  An  Enemy's  Cap. 

this  scrape,  I'd  kick  up  my  heels  and  roar.  I  don't 
know  what  you're  made  of!  You  are  peculiar!" 

Frank  walked  up  and  down  the  room,  his  face  grave 
and  thoughtful. 

"This  is  a  mighty  serious  matter  for  Evan  Hart- 
wick,"  he  said. 

"You  bet  it  is!"  nodded  Harry.  "He  must  know 
all  about  it  by  this  time.  I'll  bet  he  doesn't  feel  like 
putting  up  any  more  of  his  dirty  jobs  on  anybody !" 

"If  the  truth  were  known,  he  would  be  let  off." 

"That's  right,  but  why  should  the  truth  be  known? 
It  is  known  now  to  no  one  but  you  and  me.  We'fl 
never  tell." 

Frank  turned  and  stood  looking  gravely  at  his  friend 

"We  will  know  it  just  the  same,"  he  finally  said. 

"What  of  that,  if  it  is  known  to  no  one  else  ?" 

It  was  plain  that  this  argument  did  not  satisfy  Frank, 
who  shook  his  head  and  resumed  pacing  the  floor. 

"It's  not  likely  either  of  us  will  ever  tell,"  said  Harry. 
"Why,  I'd  have  my  toe  nails  pulled  out  before  I  would 
give  it  away.  Twenty  fellows  asked  me  to-day  if  I 
knew  anything  about  the  upsetting  of  old  Such,  and  I 
swore  on  my  life  that  I  did  not." 

"You  lied." 

Harry  winced. 

"What  if  I  did?     It  was  in  a  good  cause." 


An  Enemy's  Cap.  185 

"I  don't  know  about  that." 

"Why,  you  don't  think  I  would  tell  that  I  saw  you 
upset  the  old  man?" 

"I  know  you  well  enough,  Harry,  not  to  think  that." 

Rattleton  drew  a  breath  of  relief. 

"Well,  I  don't  see  what  you  are  driving  at,"  he  de- 
clared. 

"Never  mind  now.  I  don't  know  as  I  quite  under- 
stand my  own  feelings  in  this  matter." 

"Why,  aren't  you  glad  Hartwick  is  in  the  box?" 

"I  am  glad,  and  then  I  am  not.  I  am  rather  sorry 
I  was  the  cause  of  getting  him  there — in  such  a  man- 
ner." 

"Jee  whiskers!  I  thought  that  was  the  very  thing 
that  would  tickle  you  most !  It  is  never  possible  to  tell 
just  how  you  will  look  at  a  thing." 

The  more  Frank  thought  the  matter  over  the  more 
he  regretted  that  he  had  been  in  any  way  concerned 
in  getting  Hartwick  into  the  scrape.  He  did  not  pity 
Hartwick.  '  The  trouble  was  that  he  knew  Hartwick 
was  not  guilty. 

His  first  feeling  of  satisfaction  over  Hartwick's  mis- 
fortune gave  way  to  a  sensation  of  uncertainty.  At 
one  moment  he  would  tell  himself  it  served  Evan  right; 
the  next  moment  he  would  be  saying  no  man  should 
suffer  for  the  deed  he  did  not  commit. 


186  An  Enemy's  Cap. 

The  more  Frank  thought  about  the  matter  the  less 
Rattleton  could  understand  him.  At  last  Harry  gave 
up  trying  to  understand  his  friend  at  all. 

It  was  true  that  the  cap  had  once  belonged  to  Hart- 
wick.  His  name  had  been  pinned  in  it,  and  so  there 
was  no  trouble  about  identifying  the  owner. 

When  asked  if  the  cap  belonged  to  him,  Hartwick 
looked  it  over  and  acknowledged  that  it  did.  Then 
Professor  Such  was  positive  that  he  had  been  assaulted 
by  Hartwick.  He  even  declared  that  he  had  recog- 
nized his  assailant,  and  it  was  Hartwick. 

Hartwick  did  not  attempt  to  deny  that  he  had  been 
concerned  in  the  rush  on  the  two  policemen,  but  de- 
nied touching  Profesor  Such.  He  tried  to  tell  that  the 
cap  had  been  stolen  from  him,  but  that  assertion  was 
met  with  incredulity,  and  Professor  Such's  declaration 
that  he  had  recognized  his  assailant  as  Hartwick  bore 
great  weight. 

A  meeting  of  the  faculty  was  called  and  the  matter 
was  considered.  Professor  Such  was  severe.  He  de- 
manded that  an  example  be  made  of  Hartwick.  He  in- 
sisted that  Hartwick  be  expelled. 

Hartwick  was  called  before  the  board  and  asked  a 
few  questions.  He  was  not  allowed  to  do  anything  but 
answer  the  questions  put  to  him.  Those  questions 


An  Enemy's  Cap.  187 

brought  answers  that  seemed  to  settle  beyond  a  doubt 
that  Hartwick  was  the  guilty  one. 

When  Hartwick  came  out  Ditson  was  waiting  for 
him. 

"Well?"  said  the  latter,  inquiringly. 

"That  was  the  crummiest  deal  a  fellow  ever  got!" 
cried  Hartwick,  bitterly.  "Oh,  I  like  that  sort  of  treat- 
ment!" 

"Have  they  expelled  you?"  gasped  Ditson. 

"I  don't  know  what  they  will  do.  They  have  not 
decided  yet." 

"What  do  you  think  they'll  do?" 

"It  strikes  me  like  a  put-up  job.  I  don't  know  what 
they  will  do.  If  I  am  fired  the  governor  will  be  furi- 
ous. I'll  have  to  hustle  for  myself,  sure." 

"By  Jove!  that  will  be  hard!" 

"Hard !  Well,  I  should  so  remark !  What  can  I  do 
to  earn  a  living?  If  I  believed  in  such  a  thing  as  retri- 
bution, I  should  say  that  was  what  I  am  up  against 
now." 

"Retribution  for  what?" 

"Oh,  lots  of  things!"  said  Hartwick,  awkwardly. 
"The  way  I  have  treated  Merriwell,  for  instance." 

"Rot!  Don't  let  such  a  silly  notion  get  into  your 
head." 

"Oh,  I  can't  help  thinking  of  it!" 


1 88  An  Enemy's  Cap. 

"Well,  you  are  not  expelled  yet.  You  may  be  rusti- 
cated a  while." 

"If  that  is  all  I  get  I'll  live  through  it,  although  the 
old  man  is  bound  to  get  hot  under  the  collar  over  that." 

"After  it  is  over  you  can  come  back  and  get  square 
with  Merriwell." 

To  this  Hartwick  made  no  reply. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

A  STRANGE   WAY   TO   GET  EVEN. 

"They  say  Hartwick  will  be  expelled  beyond  a 
doubt,"  said  Rattleton  as  he  again  found  Frank  in  his 
room. 

Merriwell  threw  down  the  book  he  was  conning. 

"Who  says  so?" 

"Oh,  everybody.  He  was  up  before  the  board  this 
afternoon,  and  he  did  not  succeed  in  clearing  himself. 
Professor  Such  is  positive  Hartwick  was  the  one  by 
whom  he  was  assaulted,  and  he  is  forcing  the  matter. 
Most  of  the  fellows  believe  Hartwick  did  upset  the  old 
professor,  for  he  has  never  liked  Such.  No  one  dreams 
the  cap  came  from  your  head.  We  hold  that  secret  be- 
tween us,  Frank.  Oh,  yes,  Hartwick  will  be  expelled. 
He  will  have  to  go,  and  he'll  trouble  you  no  more." 

"He'll  not  be  expelled!" 

"Hey?     What's  that?" 

"I  say  he'll  not  be  expelled." 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  I  shall  not  allow  it." 

"How  will  you  prevent  it?" 

"By  going  to  the  faculty  and  telling  them  the  truth." 


190        A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

Rattleton  caught  his  breath  convulsively  and  fell 
over  on  the  couch. 

"Now  you  are  kidding !"  he  cried. 

"Nothing  of  the  sort;  I  am  in  sober  earnest." 

Harry  stared  at  Frank  as  if  he  could  not  believe  his 
ears  had  not  deceived  him.  He  got  up  and  looked 
Merriwell  square  in  the  face,  and  then  he  exploded : 

"You  have  grown  crazy  or  foolish  at  last!  Too 
bad!" 

"I  am  neither  crazy  nor  foolish,"  said  Frank  with  the 
greatest  calmness.  "I  have  thought  the  matter  all 
over,  and " 

"You  have  decided  it  is  the  right  thing  to  befriend 
an  enemy  who  has  rubbed  dirt  all  over  you  and  who 
would  do  it  again  if  he  got  a  good  chance  ?  If  that  isn't 
foolishness  I  don't  know." 

"It  is  not  that,  Harry.  You  do  not  seem  to  fully 
understand  the  situation  in  which  I  am  placed.  Here 
is  a  fellow  who  may  be  expelled  for  an  act  that  I  com- 
mitted. You  and  I  know  he  is  not  guilty.  We  shall 
always  know  it.  As  for  me,  the  knowledge  that  I 
was  the  cause  of  his  expulsion — the  knowledge  that  he 
was  unjustly  expelled — would  be  quite  enough  to 
make  me  blush  with  shame  whenever  I  thought  of  it." 

"But  it  is  justice — it  is  squaring  the  score." 

"It  is  squaring  the  score  in  a  contemptible,  under- 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.        191 

hand  way — it  is  squaring  the  score  as  Evan  Hart  wick 
might  attempt  to  square  it  with  me !  No,  I  cannot  do 
it!  My  conscience  will  not  let  me!" 

"And  you  will  tell  the  faculty  the  truth?" 

"Yes." 

"Good-by,  Frank !  Do  you  wish  me  to  help  you  pack 
your  stuff?" 

"To  pack?" 

"Yes.     You  will  be  expelled  in  Hartwick's  place." 

"I  may  be,  but  I  can't  help  that.  I  shall  clear  my 
conscience,  even  though  I  am  expelled." 

Harry  knew  it  was  quite  useless  to  argue  with  Frank 
when  the  latter  had  settled  his  mind  on  anything,  and 
yet  he  could  not  give  up  thus  easily.  He  felt  sure  that 
it  would  ruin  Merriwell's  college  career  if  he  persisted 
in  telling  the  truth.  He  could  not  see  but  the  fellow 
was  robbing  himself  of  the  opportunity  to  even  things 
up.  It  must  be  prevented  some  way.  Wild  schemes 
filled  his  head.  He  thought  of  getting  Diamond, 
Robinson  and  a  few  more  of  Merriwell's  friends  to 
come  and  compel  him  to  remain  silent,  by  force  if 
necessary.  Then  he  realized  that  such  a  thing  could 
not  be  done,  and  he  was  completely  unnerved  and  un- 
strung. 

"Come,  Harry,"  said  Frank,  who  had  carefully  ar- 


192        A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

ranged  his  necktie  and  dusted  his  clothes  with  a  brusk ; 
"I  want  you  to  go  with  me." 

"Where  are  you  going?" 

"To  see  Professor  Such." 

In  a  dazed  manner  Harry  found  his  hat,  and  the 
boys  went  out  together.  The  electric  lights  were 
gleaming  and  a  few  spits  of  snow  were  falling. 

Rattleton  looked  around,  thinking  to  summon  assist- 
ance, but  he  saw  none  of  their  particular  friends. 

Professor  Such  was  a  bachelor  and  he  lived  alone  in 
apartments.  Frank  rang,  and  they  were  shown  in  by  a 
servant,  who  explained  that  the  professor  had  a  caller 
in  his  study,  but  would  soon  be  at  liberty. 

It  happened  that  the  door  to  the  study  was  slightly 
ajar,  and  the  boys  heard  the  voices  of  the  professor 
and  his  caller. 

The  latter  was  Evan  Hartwick! 

Hartwick  was  trying  to  convince  the  professor  of 
his  innocence.  He  was  asking  for  mercy,  but  Such 
declared  some  one  must  serve  as  an  "example."  The 
man  was  cold  and  hard,  and  it  was  plain  he  did  not  be- 
lieve Evan. 

"I  see  it  is  no  use!"  Hartwick  finally  cried  in  de- 
spair. "I  must  submit  to  punishment  for  a  thing  I 
never  did!" 

"Why  do  you  persist  in  saying  that  when  you  know 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.        193 

it  is  not  true?"  snapped  the  professor.  "I  saw  you — 
I  saw  you  with  my  eyes !  I  snatched  the  cap  from  your 
head  as  you  knocked  me  down,  and  I  held  fast  to  it. 
You  are  the  one  who  did  the  deed !" 

"I  beg  your  pardon,  Professor  Such,  but  Evan 
Hartwick  is  not  the  one  who  did  it!" 

Frank  Merriwell  was  the  speaker  and  he  was  stand- 
ing in  the  doorway.  His  face  was  pale,  but  his  voice 
•was  steady,  and  his  attitude  that  of  one  who  would 
not  flinch.  The  professor  started  up,  and  Hartwick 
fell  back,  staring  and  gasping. 

"Eh?"  cried  Such.    "What  did  you  say,  sir?" 

"I  said  that  Evan  Hartwick  was  not  the  person  from 
whose  head  you  snatched  that  cap." 

"Then  who  was  the  person,  sir?" 

"I  am  the  one!" 

"Oh!"  gasped  Hartwick.  "Is  such  a  thing  pos- 
sible?" 

Rattleton,  no  less  pale  than  Frank,  appeared  at  Mer- 
riwell's  shoulder. 

"You — you!"  fluttered  Professor  Such.  "How  can 
that  be?  It  was  not  your  cap." 

"No.  You  must  know  that  the  sophomores  and 
freshmen  have  a  custom  of  capturing  'scalps'  from  each 
other.  I  captured  that  cap  during  my  freshman  days, 
and  I  have  had  it  ever  since.  I  happened  to  be  wearing 


194       A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

it  on  the  night  of  the  row  with  the  freshmen.  I  was 
in  the  rush  to  rescue  a  comrade  from  the  policemen. 
By  accident  I  ran  against  you,  and  you  snatched  the  cap 
from  my  head.  That  is  the  truth,  sir.  Mr.  Hartwick 
is  innocent,  as  he  has  told  you.  I  am  the  guilty  one,  but 
I  had  no  intention  of  assaulting  a  professor  of  the  col- 
lege. That  was  an  accident.  My  sole  thought  was 
to  rescue  a  friend  from  the  officers.  I  am  very  sorry 
you  were  injured,  professor,  and  I  regret  the  affair 
more  than  I  can  tell.  That  is  all.  If  any  one  must  suf- 
fer I  am  the  one." 

After  some  moments  of  silence,  Professor  Such  ad- 
justed his  spectacles,  which  he  had  removed  to  polish 
with  his  handkerchief,  and  looked  Frank  over. 

"What  induced  you  to  come  here  and  tell  this?"  he 
asked. 

"The  knowledge  that  an  innocent  person  must  suffer 
if  I  did  not  do  so.  My  conscience  would  not  allow 
me  to  remain  silent." 

"Young  man,"  said  Such,  "it  would  be  a  good  thing 
for  the  world  if  a  few  more  persons  had  consciences 
like  yours." 

He  then  dismissed  Hartwick,  assuring  him  that  he 
should  not  suffer  if  he  was  innocent. 

Half  an  hour  later  Merriwell  and  Rattleton  came 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.         195 

out.  Hartwick  was  waiting  for  them.  He  approached 
them  and  said: 

"Merriwell,  I  want  to  thank  you  for  what  you  have 
done  to-night." 

Frank  looked  at  him  coldly.  The  light  of  an  electric 
lamp  fell  on  their  faces.  Hartwick  held  out  his  hand. 

"Won't  you  shake  hands?"  he  asked. 

"No!" 

The  word  came  from  Frank's  lips  like  an  explosion, 
and  he  repulsed  Hartwick  with  a  gesture. 

<rNo,  I  will  not  shake  hands!  I  have  saved  you 
to-night,  at  what  cost  to  myself  I  do  not  yet  know;' 
but  it  was  from  no  love  of  you,  Evan  Hartwick.  I 
could  have  squared  things  between  us  by  keeping  si- 
lent, but  my  conscience  would  not  let  me.  I  am  not  an 
angel!  You  offer  me  your  hand  and  your  thanks.  I 
refuse  both!  And  somehow  I  feei  that  I  am  even 
vrith  you,  after  all!" 

Then  Merriwell  and  Rattleton  walked  onward,  leav- 
ing Hartwick  staring  after  them  and  muttering  tc 
himself. 

"He — won't — shake — hands,  eh?"  came  from  Hart- 
wick's  lips,  harshly. 

"All  right— all  right!" 

And  white  and  red  in  the  face  by  turns  he  hurried 
to  his  room,  where  Roland  Ditson  was  awaiting  him. 


196        \  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

"Well  ?"  asked  Ditson  as  Evan  Hart  wick  entered  the 
room,  and  slammed  the  door  behind  him. 

Hartwick's  eyes  glared,  and  his  slightly-parted  lips 
showed  his  gleaming  teeth. 

"Well!"  he  cried.     "It  is  anything  but  well!" 

"Then  you  have  been  expelled?"  exclaimed  Ditson, 
jumping  up. 

"No!" 

"Not  expelled?    Then  it  cannot  be  so  bad." 

Ditson  sank  back  on  the  couch  where  he  had  been 
lazily  reclining,  a  sigh  of  relief  coming  from  his  lips. 

"Not  expelled,  but  insulted!"  cried  Hartwick.  "In- 
sulted as  I've  never  been  insulted  before!" 

Ditson  had  greatly  feared  that  Hartwick  would  be 
expelled  from  college.  As  Ditson  had  kept  on  working 
Hartwick  for  loans  which  he  had  no  thought  of  re- 
paying, he  felt  that  Evan's  expulsion  would  be  a  cat- 
astrophe. 

Ditson  felt  amused,  and  he  laughed  outright. 

"Ha!  ha!  ha!"  he  exploded.  "Insulted  by  Professor 
Such?  Well,  that  is  rather  rich!  How  could  that  old 
stick  insult  you?" 

"Not  by  Professor  Such!  Think  I  would  mind 
anything  he'd  say  ?  No !  It  was  quite  another  person 
who  insulted  me." 

"Who?" 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.        197 

"Merriwell!" 

Ditson  stiffened  up  and  stared  hard  at  his  com- 
panion. 

"What — again  ?"  he  said  after  a  few  minutes. 

"Yes,  again — and  as  I  never  have  been  insulted  be- 
fore." 

"This  is  highly  interesting,"  observed  Ditson,  with 
an  expression  of  satisfaction  settling  on  his  crafty  face. 
"Tell  me  about  it.  How  did  he  insult  you  ?" 

"By  refusing  to  accept  my  hand  when  I  offered  it 
to  him." 

Once  more  Ditson  shot  up  to  his  feet.  He  made  a 
spring  and  landed  before  Hartwick,  into  whose  eyes 
he  stared,  while  he  fluttered: 

"What's  that?  What's  that?  Say  it  again,  and 
say  it  slow?  Your  hand — you  offered  Frank  Merri- 
well your  hand — in  friendship?" 

"Yes,"  answered  the  other  in  a  defiant  manner, 
which,  however,  was  not  unmingled  with  shame.  "I 
was  just  fool  enough  to  do  that  thing!" 

"Fool!  fool!  fool!"  Ditson  almost  shrieked,  wildly 
waving  his  clinched  hands.  "Why,  you  must  have 
been  crazy!  I  can't  believe  it  now!  You  are  giving 
me  a  jolly !  I  know  you  are !" 

"It  is  no  jolly.  I  actually  offered  to  shake  hands 
with  Merriwell.  I  held  out  my  hand  to  him,  and " 


198        A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

"He  refused  to  take  it  ?  I  do  not  blame  him !  You 
are  sworn  enemies,  and  you  have  done  everything  in 
your  power  to  injure  and  disgrace  Merriwell.  If  he 
had  accepted  your  hand,  he  would  have  been  a  soft  cad ! 
And  you — you I  can't  find  words  to  express  my- 
self!" 

"Nobody  has  asked  you  to  express  yourself,"  came 
coldly  from  Hartwick.  "You  are  rather  too  free,  Mr. 
Ditson.  Remember  that  you  are  in  my  rooms,  and  I 
have " 

"Made  a  blooming  jackass  of  yourself!  I  will  tell 
you  what  I  think,  whether  you  wish  me  to  or  not." 

"I  have  a  mind  to  kick  you  out  into  the  hall !" 

"But  you  will  not  do  anything  of  the  sort,"  declared 
Ditson,  insolently.  "It  would  not  be  a  healthy  thing 
for  you  to  kick  me.  I  could  make  you  very  sorry  for 
that  kick." 

Hartwick  felt  that  this  was  true,  and  still,  in  his 
present  condition,  he  was  scarcely  able  to  restrain 
himself. 

Ditson  suddenly  grew  calm,  and  he  looked  the  other 
lad  straight  in  the  eye,  his  aspect  plainly  saying: 

"Kick,  and  I  will  make  you  sorry  you  are  on  earth  i 
You  know  I  have  the  power  to  do  it." 

"Oh,  I  won't  kick  you!"  said  Evan,  snapping  his 
fingers.  "What's  the  use?  We  would  be  fools  to 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.        199 

quarrel !  We  are  in  sympathy  with  each  other  against 
Merriwell,  so " 

"I  thought  we  were,  but  I  am  beginning  to  believe 
I  have  fooled  myself.  You  confess  that  you  offered 
him  your  hand.  And  you  are  the  one  who  has  been  so 
fierce  to  do  him  up,  anyway!  You — you  offered  him 
your  hand!" 

"And  he  refused  it,  which  makes  me  still  more  his 
enemy  than  I  was  before." 

"But  it  does  not  excuse  you  for  offering  him  your 
hand.  That  is  something  I  cannot  understand." 

"I  will  explain  it." 

"Do  so." 

"At  your  suggestion,  I  went  to  Professor  Such.  I 
saw  him  alone,  and  I  told  him  the  whole  truth  concern- 
ing the  rush  and  the  part  I  took  in  it.  He  had  urged 
that  I  be  expelled,  and  he  said  he  would  not  ask  the 
board  to  be  merciful.  That  was  all  there  was  to  the 
matter." 

"That's  like  the  old  sinner.  He's  set  as  the  hills. 
But  you  said  you  were  not  expelled.  It  seems  that  you 
are  likely  to  be." 

"I  am  not." 

"Eh?    How's  that?" 

"I  have  been  saved." 

"How?    Who  by?" 


2oo       A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

"While  I  was  talking  with  the  professor  the  door- 
bell rang.  I  heard  it,  and  I  presume  the  visitors  were 
shown  into  the  parlor,  off  which  is  old  Such's  study. 
We  were  in  the  study.  I  did  not  observe  that  the  door 
was  not  securely  closed,  but  it  could  not  have  been. 
The  visitors  in  the  parlor  heard  me  pleading  with  the 
professor.  They  heard  me  express  my  utter  despair 
and  say  there  was  no  show  to  obtain  justice.  They 
heard  the  professor  state  that  he  was  positive  I  had 
assaulted  him.  Then  one  of  the  callers  appeared  at  the 
door  and  calmly  informed  the  old  man  that  I  was  not 
the  guilty  one." 

"Whew!"  whistled  Ditson.  "Well,  may  I  be 
hanged!  That  was  decidedly  interesting  and  dra- 
matic!" 

"It  staggered  me,  but  I  was  still  more  staggered 
when  this  person  confessed  that  he  himself  had  upset 
the  professor,  and  that  the  cap,  which  was  a  'scalp'  he 
had  captured  from  me  long  before,  had  been  snatched 
from  his  head." 

"Staggered!  Jeewhittaker !  I  should  have  fainted 
on  the  spot!" 

"I  have  told  you  exactly  what  happened,  and  it  was 
the  appearance  and  confession  of  this  person  that  saved 
me  from  expulsion.  They  will  not  expel  me  now.  I 
remained  long  enough  to  make  sure  of  that.  The  pro- 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.        201 

fessor  will  see  to  that  matter.  I  do  not  know  what 
they  will  do  to  the  other  fellow." 

"The  other  fellow — who  was  it?" 

"Frank  Merriwell!" 

" Merri well ?"  Ditson  gasped.  "Impossible!  You're 
kidding!" 

"I  am  speaking  the  sober  truth,"  declared  Hartwick. 
"It  was  Merriwell  who  had  overheard  our  talk !  It  was 
Merriwell  who  appeared  at  the  door !  It  was  Merriwell 
who  declared  me  innocent  because  he  himself  was  the 
guilty  one!" 

Ditson  staggered  to  the  couch,  upon  which  he  weakly 
dropped. 

"What  was  the  matter  with  the  fellow?"  he  faintly 
asked.  "Was  he  daft  ?  He  must  have  been  crazy !" 

"He  was  not.  He  said  that  he  had  heard  our  talk, 
and  that  he  came  there  to-night  to  tell  the  truth  and 
save  one  who  was  innocent.  Rattleton  was  with  him. 
Rattleton  seemed  scared,  but  Merriwell  was  cool  and 
earnest.  His  manner  and  his  words  convinced  old 
Such,  who  was  forced  to  confess  that  he  had  not  been 
certain  it  was  I  from  whose  head  he  snatched  the  cap. 
Merriwell  was  backed  up  in  all  he  said  by  Rattleton." 

Roland  took  out  his  handkerchief  and  mopped  his 
face. 

"I  don't  understand  how  you  happen  to  be  living 


202        A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

still,"  he  observed.  "I  should  have  dropped  dead  had 
I  been  in  your  place." 

"It  nearly  overcame  me,"  said  Hartwick.  "I  could 
not  believe  it  possible.  The  professor  was  touched. 
He  asked  Merriwell  why  he  had  come  there  and  ac- 
knowledged his  guilt.  Merriwell  said  he  had  done 
so  because  he  would  not  remain  silent  and  see  an  inno- 
cent person  suffer  for  something  he — Merriwell — had 
done.  Such  complimented  him  on  his  honesty,  and  I 
saw  that  Merriwell  will  be  let  off  easily.  Then  the 
professor  told  me  he  would  see  that  I  was  cleared  of 
all  blame,  and  told  me  I  might  go.  I  went,  and  left 
Merriwell  and  Rattleton  there." 

"Well,  I  fail  to  see  when  Merriwell  insulted  you. 
Why,  the  blooming  chump!" 

"Wait,"  came  grimly  from  Hartwick's  lips.  "You 
have  not  heard  all.  I  thought  it  must  be  that  Merri- 
well would  be  ready  to  shake  hands  and  let  bygones 
be  bygones." 

"That  was  natural." 

"Well,  I  waited  for  him  outside." 

"And  that  shows  where  you  played  the  fool." 

"I  confess  it.  I  fairly  compelled  myself  to  wait. 
I  will  not  say  that  I  had  the  heart  to  thank  Merriwell 
and  offer  him  my  hand,  for  I  should  lie.  I  felt  that  I 
was  defeated  all  around,  and  he  had  kept  me  from 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.        203 

going  out  into  the  world  and  hustling,  as  I  knew  the 
governor  would  not  support  me  if  I  were  expelled.  I 
said  to  myself,  'Old  fellow,  try  to  make  an  impression 
with  Merriwell.  Make  him  think  you  are  grateful.  It 
is  policy.  He  will  be  glad  to  shake  hands.'  So  I 
waited  for  him." 

"Well?" 

"He  came  out.  Rattleton  was  still  with  him.  I  met 
them  under  a  lamp  and  thanked  him.  Then  I  offered 
my  hand." 

Hartwick  grated  his  teeth  and  a  look  of  fury  came 
to  his  face,  as  if  the  remembrance  of  what  followed 
was  too  much  for  him  to  endure.  Had  Merriwell  seen 
the  fellow  at  that  moment  he  would  have  known  how 
heavily  he  had  struck  Hartwick. 

"And  he  refused  to  shake?"  cried  Ditson,  unable 
to  repress  his  delight.  "Ha!  ha!  ha!  Oh,  what  a 
corker !  That  was  a  horse  on  you,  Hartwick !" 

"He  scorned  me!"  hissed  Evan.  "He  told  me  he 
refused  both  my  thanks  and  my  hand !  He  told  me  he 
had  not  revealed  the  truth  to  Professor  Such  out  of  the 
least  regard  for  me  or  my  feelings,  but  simply  to  ease 
his  own  conscience,  as  he  could  not  see  his  worst 
enemy  expelled  for  an  act  he  himself  had  committed. ' 

"Well,  you  may  count  yourself  mighty  lucky  that 
Merriwell  has  that  sort  of  a  conscience." 


204        A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

"He  gave  me  such  a  look !"  Evan  went  on  as  if  Dit- 
son  had  not  spoken.  "It  was  as  if  I  had  been  the  most 
contemptible  thing  on  the  face  of  the  earth !  You  don't 
know  how  it  cut  me !  He  said  he  might  have  remained 
silent  and  thus  squared  the  score  between  us,  but,  al- 
though he  had  not  done  so,  he  felt  that  he  was  even 
with  me,  after  all.  And  by  the  eternal  skies !  I  felt  it 
at  that  moment!  I  felt  mean  and  miserable  and  con- 
temptuous. I  know  my  face  betrayed  shame!  Think 
of  it!  Oh,  great  heavens!  It  nearly  drives  me  out 
of  my  senses !" 

Hartwick  was  indeed  frantic  with  the  thought  of 
the  shame  of  that  moment.  He  tore  about  the  room, 
smiting  his  hands  together  and  almost  foaming  at  the 
mouth. 

Ditson  sat  on  the  sofa  and  hugged  himself  with  satis- 
faction. He  had  no  regard  for  Hartwick's  feelings. 
But  he  knew  that  from  that  night  Evan  would  hate 
Frank  Merriwell  more  intensely  than  ever  before,  and 
that  gave  Ditson  intense  delight. 

It  was  some  moments  before  Hartwick  calmed  down 
at  all.  He  rushed  into  the  sleeping-room  and  came  out 
with  a  vial  in  his  hand.  He  tried  to  turn  something 
from  the  vial  into  a  glass.  It  was  empty.  Then  he 
sat  down,  pressing  his  hands  to  his  side  and  looking 
pale  and  in  pain. 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.        205 

"What's  the  matter  ?"  asked  Roland  in  sudden  alarm. 

"My  old  trouble,"  came  faintly  from  Hart  wick's 
lips.  "It  has  not  bothered  me  for  some  time." 

"Is  it  your  heart?" 

"Yes.  The  doctor  said  it  was  weakened  by  too  much 
cigarette  smoking.  He  gave  me  some  medicine.  I 
used  to  have  faint  spells  after  severe  exertion,  and  there 
was  a  pain  in  my  heart  I  have  not  smoked  much 
lately,  and  the  spells  have  gradually  left  me.  When 
I  took  the  last  medicine  I  thought  I  would  not  need 
any  more.  My  excitement  just  now  brought  on  a  mild 
attack,  and  I  didn't  know  but  there  was  a  little  medi- 
cine left  in  the  bottle.  Let  me  lie  down  on  that  couch, 
Roll.  Help  me  over  there." 

Ditson  hastened  to  do  so,  wondering  that  he  had 
never  known  of  Hartwick's  affliction  before.  He  knew 
Hartwick  must  have  taken  the  greatest  pains  to  hide 
the  truth  concerning  his  trouble. 

Evan  was  weak  as  a  child,  and  he  breathed  heavily 
after  lying  down.  Ditson  was  greatly  alarmed  and 
asked  if  he  should  not  go  for  a  physician. 

"No!  no!"  said  Evan.  "I  am  better  now.  I'll  be 
all  right  in  a  few  moments.  Don't  worry  about  me. 
I'll  never  die  till  I  have  gotten  back  at  Frank  Merriwell 
for  the  dirt  he  rubbed  on  me  this  night!" 


ao6        A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even. 

Roland  sat  down  and  lighted  a  cigarette. 

"I  don't  believe  it  could  have  been  these  that  gave 
you  the  trouble,"  he  said.  "I  have  heard  fellows  blow 
about  them,  but  I  take  no  stock  in  it.  They're  harm- 
less." 

"If  a  fellow  did  not  smoke  more  than  three  or  four 
a  day  I  think  they  would  not  harm  him,"  said  Hart- 
wick;  "but  who  is  able  to  tie  himself  down  to  that 
number  after  he  gets  so  he  cares  for  them?  There's 
not  one  person  in  ten  thousand.  I  smoke  them  occa- 
sionally now,  but  I  know  it  means  sure  death  if  I  smoke 
many,  and  that  keeps  me  in  check." 

"Oh,  well,  a  fellow's  got  to  die  some  way,"  said  Dit- 
son,  as  if  he  was  utterly  reckless  of  life. 

This  caused  Hartwick  to  smile,  for  he  knew  Ditson 
was  a  natural  coward. 

After  a  while  Evan  sat  up. 

"It  has  passed  now,"  he  said.  "I  should  not  have 
been  attacked  if  I  had  not  become  so  wrought  up  over 
Merriwell !  I  must  get  some  more  of  this  medicine." 

He  arose  and  looked  in  a  large  mirror. 

"He  rubbed  dirt  on  me!"  he  muttered,  the  words 
coming  through  his  teeth  with  a  hissing  sound.  "But 
I  will  get  back  at  him  with  interest !  I  will  find  a  way ! 
He  saved  me  to  insult  me  and  cover  me  with  shame! 


A  Strange  Way  to  Get  Even.       207 

Does  he  think  the  matter  is  even  ?  Does  he  fancy  the 
score  is  squared?  Ha!  ha!  ha!  He  shall  find  that 
Evan  Hartwick  knows  no  mercy  for  one  he  hates.  I 
will  strike  Frank  Merriwell  a  blow  that  will  crush 
himl" 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

RETROSPECTIVE. 

Not  a  few  of  Frank  Merriwell's  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances declared  he  was  a  fool  to  make  the  con- 
fession he  did  in  order  to  prevent  his  worst  enemy  from 
being  expelled  from  college.  Not  a  few  of  them 
frankly  asserted  that  they  would  not  have  done  the 
same  thing  for  a  fellow  like  Hartwick  had  they  been 
in  Merriwell's  place. 

Still,  the  very  ones  who  said  Frank  was  foolish  se- 
cretly admired  him  for  his  folly.  They  saw  that  he 
was  a  fellow  who  had  a  conscience  that  would  not  al- 
low his  bitterest  foe  to  suffer  for  an  act  that  had  been 
committed  by  himself,  not  by  his  foe. 

It  is  true  there  are  not  many  lads  who  would  have 
cleared  an  unscrupulous  enemy  from  such  a  charge  by 
placing  themselves  in  the  unenviable  position  which 
that  enemy  occupied.  It  was  not  physical  courage  that 
led  Frank  to  do  such  a  thing,  but  it  was  true  moral 
courage,  a  qualification  which  far  excels  mere  physical 
courage. 

A  boy  who  is  easily  influenced  to  do  things  he 
knows  is  wrong  may  be  a  lad  who  will  not  shrink  from 


Retrospective.  209 

danger  to  life  and  limb.  It  is  possible  that  he  may  be 
daring  and  brave  in  a  certain  way,  and  still,  at  the 
same  time,  he  may  be  almost  utterly  lacking  in  moral 
courage. 

Such  a  lad  might  not  hesitate  to  place  his  own  life  in 
peril  to  save  the  life  of  another,  and  yet  he  might  be 
induced  to  smoke,  drink,  swear,  or  do  things  even 
worse,  knowing  all  the  while  that  he  was  doing  wrong. 
He  sees  others  doing  such  things,  and  he  fears  the 
ridicule  of  his  companions  if  he  does  not  imitate  them. 
They  will  jolly  him  if  he  refuses  to  drink,  and  so  he 
drinks.  He  does  not  want  to  drink  and  he  dislikes  the 
taste  of  liquor,  yet  he  takes  it,  pretending  he  does  like 
it  He  has  not  the  moral  courage  to  refuse. 

On  the  other  hand,  a  weak  little  fellow  who  fears 
a  toad  or  a  mouse  may  have  sufficient  moral  courage 
to  firmly  refuse  to  do  anything  he  knows  is  wrong. 

The  fellows  with  physical  courage  are  admired, 
while  the  chances  are  that  the  ones  with  simple  moral 
courage  are  held  in  contempt.  Yet  the  hero  with 
moral  courage  is  the  greater  hero  of  the  two. 

Sometimes  it  happens  that  a  lad  has  both  physical 
and  moral  courage.  Then  he  is  a  hero  indeed! 

Such  a  lad  was  Frank  Merriwell.  He  could  and 
would  refuse  to  drink  or  smoke,  because  he  had  no 
taste  for  drinking  and  smoking,  and  he  knew  such 


210  Retrospective. 

habits  would  do  him  no  good,  and  they  were  pretty 
sure  to  do  him  harm. 

He  could  refuse  to  do  anything  that  was  absolutely 
wrong,  and  yet  no  fellow  ever  loved  honest  sport  more. 
There  was  nothing  of  the  milksop  about  Merriwell. 
He  was  not  the  Sunday-school  good  boy  who  would 
not  fight.  He  believed  that  any  lad  should  have  a  stiff 
backbone  and  be  prepared  to  fight  for  his  rights. 

At  the  same  time,  there  was  nothing  of  the  bully  in 
Frank.  He  hated  a  bully,  and  he  was  ever  ready  to 
take  up  the  cause  of  the  weak  against  an  oppressor. 
If  he  saw  two  dogs  fighting  his  sympathy  was  with  the 
under  dog. 

In  this  respect  he  was  much  unlike  the  ordinary 
human  being,  who  is  prone  to  admire  and  cheer  the 
dog  on  top,  no  matter  if  he  is  the  aggressor  and  entirely 
in  the  wrong. 

There  were  many  other  ways  in  which  Frank  was 
not  like  the  ordinary  human  being,  and  Harry  Rat- 
tleton,  who  had  tried  to  fathom  Merriwell's  nature, 
had  given  over  the  task  in  despair,  confessing  he 
never  could  tell  "which  way  Merry  would  hop  if  you 
threw  anything  at  him,  but  it  was  generally  the  other 
way." 

When  Merriwell  first  entered  Yale  he  was  ridiculed 
in  an  unmerciful  fashion  because  he  would  not  join 


Retrospective.  2 1  r 

the  other  lads  in  their  drinking  and  smoking  parties 
and  drink  and  smoke  like  the  others.  Not  a  few  were 
willing  to  wager  that  he  would  be  punishing  as  much 
stuff — by  which  liquor,  beer,  or  wine  was  meant — as 
any  of  them  in  less  than  a  year. 

A  year  had  passed,  and  still  Frank  neither  drank 
nor  smoked.  He  seemed  to  enjoy  being  with  the  fel- 
lows when  they  were  drinking  and  smoking.  He  could 
tell  a  good  story,  sing  a  song,  and  he  would  spend  as 
much  money  as  anybody. 

It  had  not  taken  his  acquaintances  long  to  discover 
that  he  was  no  cad  or  milksop,  and  they  began  to  ad- 
mire him  and  wonder  at  his  nerve  and  self-reliance. 
They  told  each  other  that  he  was  one  fellow  in  ten  thou- 
sand. He  became  popular,  and  he  was  a  natural  leader 
in  his  set. 

Before  he  became  a  sophomore  Merriwell  had  been 
spotted  for  the  societies.  It  was  said  that  he  was  sure 
of  being  able  to  take  his  choice  among  them,  which 
was  rather  remarkable,  for  at  Yale  a  fellow  who  is 
wanted  by  one  society  often  is  not  wanted  at  all  by 
another. 

For  all  that  he  took  such  an  interest  in  athletics, 
Frank  had  some  literary  tastes,  and  not  a  few  squibs, 
articles,  and  poems  in  the  college  papers  were  from  his 
pen. 


212  Retrospective. 

Occasionally  Harry  would  waken  at  night  and  find 
Frank  busily  writing  at  the  table.  At  first  he  won- 
dered that  his  friend  should  write  so  many  letters,  and 
it  was  not  for  some  time  that  he  discovered  Frank  was 
dashing  off  an  "effusion"  of  some  kind  for  one  of  the 
papers. 

This  was  employment  that  Frank  thoroughly  en- 
joyed, but  his  studies  and  athletics  would  not  permit 
him  to  give  as  much  time  to  it  as  he  desired. 

The  first  year  at  college  is  the  hardest.  After  the 
second  year  the  work  grows  lighter  and  the  student  has 
more  time.  Rattleton  wondered  at  the  amount  of 
work  and  the  number  of  things  Frank  had  accom- 
plished during  the  first  year.  It  was  simply  marvelous 
to  Rattleton. 

The  secret  of  Frank's  success  was  his  wonderful  en- 
ergy and  the  fact  that  he  wasted  very  little  time.  He 
did  have  his  periods  of  relaxation,  but  he  seemed  to 
make  up  for  them  all  by  the  marvelous  way  he  would 
push  things  at  other  times. 

Bruce  Browning,  who  was  the  laziest  fellow  in  col- 
lege without  exception,  called  Merriwell  a  steam  en- 
gine. Browning  considered  himself  a  philosopher. 
He  declared  that  the  idea  of  wearing  out  instead  of 
rusting  out  was  "all  rot."  "Any  fellow  might  make 


Retrospective.  2 1 3 

a  mule  of  himself  who  wanted  to,"  said  Bruce ;  "I  do 
not  care  for  that  sort  of  thing." 

And  still,  during  his  first  year  at  Yale,  Browning 
had  been  a  "chieftain  bold."  He  had  grown  fleshy 
since  those  days.  Then  he  was  stout  and  powerful,  and 
he  had  made  things  hum,  figuratively  speaking. 

When  Frank  entered  Yale  Browning  was  known  as 
the  "King  of  the  Sophomores."  He  had  begun  to  take 
things  easy  and  get  fleshy,  but  his  brain  was  still  active, 
and  he  was  an  adept  at  planning  pranks  and  leading  in 
wild  escapades. 

Hartwick  was  Browning's  roommate  at  that  time. 
He  had  given  Merriwell  very  little  attention,  although 
taking  a  dislike  to  Frank  immediately.  Hartwick  felt 
himself  to  be  a  person  of  considerable  importance,  and 
he  would  not  deign  to  bother  with  freshmen. 

Browning,  however,  found  the  leader  of  the  fresh- 
men aggressive,  and  he  had  made  several  attempts  to 
get  the  best  of  Frank  and  his  friends. 

To  the  dismay  of  Bruce,  he  found  in  Frank  Merri- 
well a  foeman  who  refused  to  be  squelched.  And 
Merriwell  had  a  way  of  turning  the  tables  on  Brown- 
ing that  angered  and  embarrassed  the  "king."  Brown- 
ing was  forced  to  give  a  great  deal  of  his  attention  to 
Merriwell  and  the  freshmen,  and  as  a  natural  result  he 
seriously  neglected  his  studies.  In  the  end  he  was 


214  Retrospective. 

dropped  a  class,  and  he  that  had  been  a  monarch  was 
monarch  no  more. 

As  soon  as  Browning  was  dropped  HartwicK 
promptly  cut  him  in  the  most  caddish  manner.  Once 
Browning  had  considered  Hartwick  as  his  firm  friend, 
but  he  found  that  friendship  ceased  the  moment  they 
were  in  different  classes. 

Browning's  spirit  was  broken  in  a  measure.  He  no 
longer  aspired  to  be  a  leader,  but  he  was  quite  con- 
tent to  recognize  Merriwell  as  his  superior.  In  fact, 
his  admiration  for  Frank  increased  daily,  although 
he  had  a  way  of  ridiculing  Frank's  restlessness  and 
energy. 

Frank  could  have  quite  crushed  Browning  had  he 
been  so  inclined,  for  a  fellow  who  has  been  dropped 
seems  to  have  lost  his  place  entirely.  But  Frank  was 
not  that  sort  of  a  lad.  He  met  Bruce  with  outstretched 
hands,  and  welcomed  him  to  the  ranks  of  "good  old 
'Umpty-eight."  He  made  Bruce  feel  that,  after  all, 
it  was  not  such  a  terrible  misfortune  to  be  dropped. 

Browning  entertained  a  strong  feeling  of  resentment 
for  Hartwick.  When  he  heard  what  Merriwell  had 
done  Bruce  groaned  in  agony  of  spirit.  He  knew 
Hartwick  had  done  everything  in  his  power  to  injure 
Frank,  and  he  could  not  understand  a  fellow  who 


Retrospective.  2 1 5 

would  retaliate  by  pulling  Hartwick  out  of  such  a 
scrape. 

"Oh,  if  I'd  had  that  chance!"  said  Bruce.  "I 
wouldn't  have  done  a  thing  to  Mr.  Hartwick — not  a 
thing!" 

Frank  was  well  satisfied  with  himself  after  he  had 
cleared  his  conscience  by  telling  the  truth  and  saving 
Hartwick. 

"Even  if  I  am  expelled  I'll  feel  that  I  did  right,  and 
I'll  have  nothing  to  regret,"  he  thought. 

But  he  was  not  expelled.  Professor  Such,  although 
inclined  to  be  stern  and  harsh,  had  been  touched  by 
Merriwell's  honesty  and  manliness.  Later  on  he 
found  out  that  Merriwell  and  Hartwick  were  enemies, 
and  then  he  actually  admired  Frank.  He  informed  the 
faculty  that  he  was  certain  Merriwell  had  intended  him 
no  bodily  harm,  but  had  been  leading  the  rush  to  rescue 
a  comrade  from  the  policemen,  just  as  he  claimed.  He 
urged  that  Merriwell  be  let  off  lightly,  so  Frank  was 
called  up  and  reprimanded  in  a  manner  that  was  half 
a  compliment  for  his  manly  action,  and  there  the  matter 
ended  so  far  as  the  faculty  was  concerned. 

But  it  did  not  end  there  with  Evan  Hartwick. 

Merriwell's  refusal  to  accept  Hartwick's  hand  or  his 
thanks  was  sufficient  to  make  Evan  more  bitter  than 
ever;  but  he  was  shrewd  enough  not  to  do  anything 


2 1 6  Retrospective. 

openly  and  in  a  hurry  to  harm  Frank.  He  knew  he 
would  be  watched,  and  so  he  kept  quiet  for  a  time. 

It  began  to  look  as  if  Frank's  foes  had  decided  to 
let  him  alone  at  last,  and  Rattleton,  who  had  fiercely 
opposed  his  friend's  determination  to  tell  the  truth  and 
save  Hartwick,  was  obliged  to  confess  that  Merry's 
way  had  been  the  best,  after  all. 

"Sometimes,"  he  said,  "when  you  want  to  do  a  thing 
it  seems  just  exactly  the  wrong  thing  to  do ;  but  I've 
noticed  that  it  almost  always  turns  out  to  be  for  the 
best.  You've  got  a  hong  led — I  mean  a  long  head." 

"Thank  you !"  laughed  Frank.  "I  don't  mind  that, 
if  it  is  not  a  swelled  head.  The  chap  with  the  swelled 
head  is  very  unfortunate.  I  do  not  know  of  another 
disease  so  weakening  and  dangerous  as  the  swelled 
head." 

"What  I  admired  most,"  declared  Harry,  "was  the 
way  you  got  in  on  Hartwick  when  he  wanted  to  shake 
hands.  Why,  he  actually  turned  green!  If  you  had 
plotted  and  planned  the  thing  out  from  start  to  finish, 
you  could  not  have  hit  him  harder." 

"Well,  it  is  all  over  now,"  said  Frank,  "and  I  hope 
he  will  let  me  alone.  If  he  keeps  away  from  me  I'll 
agree  not  to  bother  him." 

"That  is  first  rate,  but  he  will  not  keep  away  from 
you,  my  boy.  He  is  not  that  kind." 


Retrospective.  217 

"What  makes  you  think  so?" 

"I  could  see  it  in  his  face.  When  you  refused  to 
shake  hands  with  him  he  was  so  mortified  that  he 
longed  to  kill  you  on  the  spot.  That  was  something 
on  your  part  that  he  had  not  anticipated.  He  had  fan- 
cied that  a  chap  who  was  soft  enough  to  do  what  you 
did  for  an  enemy  would  be  more  than  pleased  to  bury 
the  hatchet  and  smoke  the  pipe  of  peace." 

"If  he  lets  me  alone  I  will  not  trouble  him  any  more, 
for  I  feel  that  I  am  square  with  him ;  but  if  he  does  not 
let  me  alone  I'll  give  him  blow  for  blow  till  he  is  tired 
of  warfare." 

It  began  to  seem  that  Harry  had  made  a  mistake  in 
thinking  Hartwick  would  trouble  Frank  any  more. 
Merriwell  never  seemed  to  see  Evan,  although  they 
sometimes  came  face  to  face.  The  enemies  utterly  ig- 
nored each  other,  but  it  was  plain  that  Frank  never 
tried  to  avoid  Hartwick,  while  Evan  took  precautions 
not  to  come  face  to  face  with  Merriwell. 

Evan  Hartwick  had  been  one  of  the  most  careful 
men  in  college  about  his  dress,  but,  to  the  surprise  of 
those  who  knew  him  best,  he  suddenly  became  careless 
and  neglectful  as  to  his  clothes.  He  did  not  always 
appear  in  fresh  linen,  his  boots  were  not  constantly 
polished,  his  hats  were  not  brushed,  and  his  neckties 
were  not  of  the  very  latest  patterns. 


2 1 8  Retrospective. 

Ditson  was  one  of  the  first  to  observe  Hartwick's 
growing  disregard  for  his  personal  appearance,  and 
Ditson  also  noticed  that  Evan  was  drinking  far  more 
than  usual. 

Hartwick  had  a  way  of  going  down  to  Morey's  or 
Traeger's  and  sitting  by  himself  in  some  obscure  cor- 
ner, where  he  would  spend  his  time  in  drinking  Scotch 
whiskey  and  glowering  at  everything  and  every  one 
in  the  immediate  vicinity. 

It  was  noticeable  that  what  he  drank  never  seemed 
to  enliven  Hartwick  and  put  him  in  better  spirits.  In- 
stead of  that,  as  he  continued  to  drink  he  became  more 
and  more  sullen  and  depressed. 

Some  of  the  fellows  rather  pitied  Evan,  and  they 
tried  to  talk  with  him  and  jolly  him  up,  but  these 
efforts  were  failures  and  were  seldom  repeated. 

Ditson  was  the  only  one  who  seemed  to  have  the  full 
confidence  of  Hartwick,  and  this  was  true  only  as  to 
outward  appearances,  for  Hartwick  was  shy  of  Roland 
•when  he  had  not  drunk  beyond  his  capacity. 

One  day,  however,  Hartwick  felt  like  talking,  and  he 
turned  to  Ditson  as  the  only  person  whom  he  dared 
trust.    They  were  in  Ditson's  gaudily- furnished  apar> 
ments. 

"Merriwell  thinks  I  have  let  up  on  him,"  Evan  be- 


Retrospective.  219 

gan,  "but  he  is  going  to  find  out  his  mistake  pretty 
soon." 

"It  does  look  as  if  you  are  a  quitter,"  grinned  Roll 
in  an  aggravating  manner.  "I  imagine  all  the  fellows 
think  so." 

"You  imagine — you  imagine!"  snarled  Hartwick. 
"What  right  have  you  to  imagine  anything?  You 
have  a  great  imagination,  you  have !" 

"There  is  no  imagination  to  the  fact  that  Merriwell 
seems  to  have  broken  your  spirit  completely,  my  dear 
boy." 

"Oh,  there   isn't!    Well,  have  it  as  you  like!" 

"You  used  to  be  dressy  and  precise  about  your  per- 
sonal appearance.  Now  you  are  on  the  bum.  You 
don't  seem  to  care  how  you  look." 

"Whose  business  is  it?  I  had  money  once,  but  you 
get  it  all  now,  you  infernal  bloodsucker !" 

"I  wouldn't  call  names,  if  I  were  you,  Hartwick,  old 
man.  It  is  not  pleasant.  Who  has  been  your  closest 
friend?  Who  has  stuck  by  you  in  everything?  Who 
is  the  one  to  whom  you  can  unbosom  yourself  freely? 
Little  Roland!  You  can  afford  to  loan  such  a  com- 
rade a  few  paltry  plunks  to  tide  him  over." 

"Tide  him  over!  Look  at  these  rooms!  They  are 
out  of  sight !  Everything  is  luxurious  here.  You  even 


22O  Retrospective. 

have  a  private  bath  with  the  suit.  I  have  none  of  these 
luxuries.  I  live  simply." 

"You  know  as  well  as  I  why  I  live  this  way.  I  want 
to  show  the  old  crowd  that  were  friendly  to  me  once 
what  they  have  missed  by  not  sticking  to  me.  I  always 
find  a  way  to  flash  a  roll  whenever  I  am  in  the  presence 
of  any  of  them." 

"That's  foolishness,"  declared  Hartwick.  "What 
do  they  care?  Get  even  with  them,  as  I  will  get  even 
with  Merriwell." 

"You  are  not  doing  much  to  get  even." 

"How  do  you  know  what  I  am  doing?" 

"I  judge  from  appearances." 

"That's  where  you  fool  yourself.  You  d©  not  know 
all  that  is  going  on,  young  man." 

"All  right ;  let  it  go  at  that.    What  are  you  doing  ?" 

"I'll  tell  you  what  I  have  been  doing." 

"Do!" 

"I  have  had  a  private  detective  in  my  employ  for 
some  time." 

"A  private  detective?" 

"Exactly,"  nodded  Hartwick,  who  seemed  to  enjoy 
Roland's  astonishment.  "That  is  what  I  said." 

"But  what  can  you  want  of  a  private  detective  ?" 

"He  has  been  engaged  in  looking  up  Frank  Merri- 
well's  history  and  record." 


Retrospective.  22 1 

"Whew !"  whistled  Ditson.    "What's  that  for  ?" 

"I  will  tell  you  what  it  is  for.  You  know  that 
Merriwell  cut  me  out  with  Winnie  Lee.  He  thinks  her 
his  queen  now,  and  she  is  stuck  on  him.  The  way  to 
hit  Merriwell  is  through  her.  I  have  been  looking 
for  some  stain  on  Merriwell's  record  or  that  of  his 
family,  so  that  I  may  expose  him  to  Winnie.  If  I  can 
turn  her  against  him  it  will  be  one  of  the  greatest 
blows  I  can  give  him." 

Ditson  showed  unusual  interest. 

"That  is  right,"  he  agreed.  "And  you  are  not 
going  to  involve  yourself  in  this  way.  But  can  you 
find  out  anything  that  will  hurt  Merriwell  with  Miss 
Lee?" 

"Can  I?"  cried  Hartwick,  triumphantly.  "I  have! 
Wait  till  the  time  comes  for  me  to  strike.  I  will  make 
him  regret  that  he  ever  came  across  the  track  of  Evan 
Hartwick!  I  will  make  Winnie  turn  against  him  and 
regard  him  with  contempt.  I  have  already  learned 
enough  to  accomplish  this!" 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

WINNIE    LEE    AGAIN. 

Winnie  Lee  was  a  charming  girl,  and  she  was  in  love 
with  Frank  Merriwell  in  a  girlish  way. 

As  we  know,  Frank  had  admired  Winnie  greatly  the 
first  time  he  saw  her,  and  his  admiration  grew  when  he 
came  to  know  her  better. 

She  was  a  girl  who  "wore  well,"  for  she  was  not  all 
giddiness  and  gush.  She  could  talk  in  an  intelligent 
way  about  college  athletics,  and  she  was  a  perfect  crank 
on  football. 

Frank  called  upon  her  at  her  home.  She  was  the 
only  girl  he  had  met  since  entering  college  for  whom 
he  cared,  and  he  did  care  very  much  for  Winnie.  He 
called  her  his  queen,  which  was  Yale  slang  for  best 
girl. 

Winnie  knew  all  about  the  trouble  between  Merri- 
well and  Hartwick,  and  she  learned  of  Frank's  act 
shortly  after  he  saved  Hartwick  from  expulsion. 

As  may  be  imagined,  this  noble  generosity — as  it 
seemed — toward  an  enemy  made  Frank  appear  more 
than  ever  like  a  hero,  and  the  next  time  he  called  she 


Winnie  Lee  Again.  223 

tried  to  find  words  to  tell  him  how  much  she  admired 
him  for  what  he  had  done. 

"You  dear  fellow !"  she  said.  "I  do  not  believe  there 
is  another  boy  in  the  whole  world  who  would  have 
done  such  a  thing  for  an  enemy  like  Hartwick!" 

"I  think  you  have  mistaken  my  motive  in  doing 
what  I  did,  Winnie,"  said  Frank,  gravely.  "I  do  not 
wish  to  be  thought  better  than  I  am,  and  so  I  will  tell 
you  I  did  not  do  this  for  Hartwick's  sake." 

"But  you  did  not  have  to  tell,  did  you  ?" 

"No." 

"Then  why  did  you?" 

"Because  I  felt  I  would  be  a  most  despicable  coward 
if  I  did  not.  I  told  the  truth,  Winnie,  to  clear  my 
conscience,  and  not  to  clear  Evan  Hartwick." 

"There  are  few  fellows  who  would  have  done  it. 
It  was  a  noble  deed,  Frank,  and  I  am  glad  you  did  it, 
for  you  saved  him  from  expulsion." 

A  cloud  gathered  on  Frank's  face,  and  he  regarded 
Winnie  doubtingly,  biting  his  lips  the  while. 

She  saw  the  sudden  change  in  him  and  she  wondered 
at  it. 

"Why,  what  is  the  matter,  Frank  ?"  she  asked,  look- 
ing into  his  eyes. 

"Oh,  nothing,"  was  his  evasive  answer. 

But  she  was  not  to  be  deceived  in  that  manner. 


224  Winnie  Lee  Again. 

"I  know  there  is  something  the  matter/'  she  de- 
clared. "Your  face  changed  suddenly.  Did  I  say 
anything  wrong?" 

"No!  no!" 

"Then  what  is  it?  You  must  tell  me,  Frank,  for 
you  cannot  deceive  me.  What  caused  your  face  to 
change  ?" 

"Oh,  well,  it  was  foolishness,  I  suppose,"  laughed 
Frank,  in  some  confusion.  "But  I — I  was  jealous !" 

"Oh,  my!"  she  cried,  starting  back.  "Jealous? 
You?  Of  whom?" 

"Now  don't  be  angry,  Winnie!  If  you  question  me 
this  way  you'll  force  me  to  tell.  I  can't  get  out  of  it." 

"Of  course  you  cannot !  You  must  tell,  you  naughty 
fellow!  Of  whom  were  you  jealous,  sir?" 

"Of  Evan  Hartwick." 

"Frank  Merriwell,  I  didn't  think  that  of  you !" 

Winnie  seemed  shocked  and  on  the  verge  of  tears. 
They  were  quite  alone,  and  Frank  quickly  passed  his 
arm  about  her,  saying  softly  in  her  ear: 

"There,  there,  Winnie!  You  promised  me  you 
would  not  be  angry." 

"I  am  not  angry,  but  I  am  surprised  and  hurt.  The 
idea  that  you  should  be  jealous  of  Hartwick!" 

"But  you  know  he  was  very  attentive  to  you  once, 
and  you  seemed  to  care  for  him  at  that  time." 


Winnie  Lee  Again.  225 

"I  never  cared  for  him  much.  I  never  cared  for  him 
the  same  as — as — as  I  do  for — for  you." 

"Of  course !  I  should  have  known !  I  am  a  stupid, 
blundering  fellow,  Winnie,  and  I  ask  your  pardon! 
But  you  seemed  so  glad  because  he  had  not  been  ex- 
pelled, and  you  spoke  of  him  in  a  way  that  aroused  me, 
despite  my  better  judgment." 

"I  do  not  think  I  ought  to  forgive  you  at  all,"  she 
said,  teasingly,  as  she  drew  away.  "Of  course  I  will 
not  be  angry,  for  I  have  given  my  promise,  but  I  be- 
lieve you  should  be  punished,  and " 

"Just  to  think  I  was  so  foolish  has  been  punishment 
enough  already,  Winnie  dear !"  pleaded  Frank.  "Don't 
make  it  harder,  my  little  queen !  If  you  do " 

"What  then?"  she  teasingly  asked,  trying  to  appear 
serious,  while  there  was  a  laughing  mischief  in  her 
eyes. 

"I'll  do  something,"  threatened  Frank. 

"What?" 

"Oh,  something  desperate!" 

"You  frighten  me !    I  wonder  what  it  could  be  ?" 

"I'll— I'll— I'll  kiss  you!"  exploded  Frank,  at  a  loss 
to  think  of  anything  else  that  he  could  do. 

She  burst  into  a  merry  peal  of  girlish  laughter,  clap- 
ping her  hands. 

"Oh,  you  bold,  bold,  bad  boy !"  she  cried.     "You  are 


226  Winnie  Lee  Again. 

getting  desperate  altogether  too  often  of  late.  The  first 
thing  you  know  papa  will  drop  in  some  time  and  catch 
you.  Then  he  will  ask  you  for  an  explanation." 

"I'll  explain." 

"How?" 

"Scientists  declare  kissing  dangerous — they  say  it 
transmits  germs.  I  shall  explain  that  we  are  experir 
menting  to  see  if  the  scientists  are  right." 

"Then  you  will  be  pretty  sure  to  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion directly  afterward  that  they  are,"  said  Winnie, 
with  a  teasing  twinkle  in  her  eye,  "for  it  is  quite  likely 
that  papa  will  violently  eject  you  from  the  house.  By 
the  time  you  reach  the  sidewalk  you  will  decide  that 
kissing  is  dangerous  in  some  instances." 

"Well,  if  that  is  the  way  it  is  likely  to  happen,  I  am 
going  to  be  careful  that  he  does  not  catch  me." 

"That's  right,  Frank,"  laughed  the  girl;  "but  you 
need  not  be  afraid  just  now,  for  he  is  not  at  home." 

Frank  was  not  slow,  and  that  was  all  the  hint  he 
needed  in  that  instance.  He  made  another  venture 
without  delay. 

"Now,"  said  Winnie  as  they  sat  very  close  together, 
"I  have  some  news  for  you,  you  naughty,  bad  boy." 

"What  is  it,  little  queen  ?" 

"Eunice  is  coming  down  to  spend  the  spring  in  New 
Haven." 


Winnie  Lee  Again.  227 

"Eunice  Darley  ?" 

"Yes.  You  know  she  would  have  stayed  longer  be- 
fore, but  Hartwick  drove  her  away.  When  she  found 
out  how  bad  he  really  was  and  what  he  was  compel- 
ling her  to  do,  she  was  horrified,  and  she  went  away  as 
soon  as  she  could." 

"But  not  without  telling  me  the  truth  concerning 
Hartwick  and  clearing  me  in  your  eyes,  Winnie.  I 
think  Eunice  is  a  splendid  girl,  and  she  has  the  most 
beautiful  eyes What's  the  matter,  Winnie?" 

"Oh,  nothing  at  all !     Go  on — do  go  on !" 

Winnie  had  suddenly  drawn  away  and  was  sitting 
up  very  straight  and  prim,  with  a  severe  look  on  her 
face. 

For  one  moment  Frank  was  perplexed,  and  then  he 
solved  the  mystery  of  her  sudden  move,  and  he  chuckled 
to  himself. 

"She  has  the  most  fascinating  eyes  I  ever  saw,"  he 
declared.  "They  actually  have  hypnotic  power." 

"They  must  have!"  came  sarcastically  from  Winnie. 
"They  hypnotized  you  so  that  you  did  not  see  her 
when  she  put  the  drug  into  a  glass  of  water  you  aftei- 
ward  drank." 

"That  is  quite  true,  but  you  must  remember  that  I 
did  not  know  you  very  well  at  that  time,  Winnie.  I 
had  only  just  been  introduced  to  you,  and  Eunice  Dar- 


228  Winnie  Lee  Again. 

ley  was  your  closest  friend,  so  why  should  I  not  culti- 
vate her?  for  by  so  doing  I  might  get  nearer  to  you." 

The  girl's  face  relaxed  a  bit  despite  herself,  but  she 
said: 

"Oh,  you  have  the  nicest  way  of  getting  around 
things !  You  really  try  to  make  me  think  you  were  at- 
tentive to  Eunice  because  you  thought  so  much  of  me. 
I  never  saw  a  fellow  like  you!  I'll  bet  anything  you 
have  had  a  dozen  girls,  Frank  Merriwell!" 

"Oh,  not  so  many  as  that,  Winnie!  Don't  set  it 
so  high." 

"Well,  then,  I  will  let  you  set  it.  How  many  have 
you  had,  sir?" 

Frank  realized  that  her  mood  had  changed,  and  she 
was  now  in  the  proper  spirit  to  be  easily  teased. 

Now,  Frank  was  rather  crafty  in  a  certain  way,  for 
he  had  made  a  study  of  girls,  and  he  had  found  that  it 
does  not  do  to  give  any  girl  the  impression  that  she  is 
the  only  one  you  have  ever  paid  attentions. 

Frank  began  to  laugh.  He  felt  like  teasing  Win- 
nie a  bit,  for  she  lost  no  opportunity  to  tease  him. 

Winnie  arose  to  her  feet.  She  stamped  her  foot 
and  cried: 

"You  have  not  answered  me,  sir!" 

"I  humbly  beg  your  pardon,"  came  with  sudden 


Winnie  Lee  Again.  229 

gravity  from  the  lad's  lips.  "What  was  your  ques- 
tion?" 

"I  asked  you  how  many  other  girls  you  have  ever 
had." 

Not  more  than  eight  or  ten,  I  assure  you,"  said 
Frank,  with  continued  gravity. 

"Oh,  indeed!  Then  you  must  have  been  a  genuine 
masher,  and " 

"Oh,  I  protest!"  cried  Frank,  quickly.  "If  there  is 
anything  I  despise  it  is  a  masher!" 

"So  do  I,  and  any  fellow  who  has  had  eight  or  ten 
girls  must  be  a  masher.  I  do  not  care  to  have  any- 
thing to  do  with  such  a  person." 

"Winnie!" 

"Mr.  Merriwell!" 

Now  Frank  was  alarmed,.  He  sprang  to  his  feet, 
and  she  retreated  haughtily  before  him. 

"Winnie!"  he  cried  again,  going  toward  her  with 
hands  outstretched. 

"Stop!"  she  commanded,  and  she  was  as  imperious 
as  a  queen.  "You  have  heard  what  I  had  to  say,  sir !" 

"But  you  were  not  in  earnest,  Winnie — I  know  you 
were  not!" 

"I  am  in  earnest,  Mr.  Merriwell !  Go  to  your  eight 
or  ten  other  girls !  Surely  you  will  be  able  to  find  one 
among  them  that  is  worthy.  Go,  sir !" 


23O  Winnie  Lee  Again. 

"But,  Winnie " 

"It  is  useless  to  talk !" 

Frank's  manner  suddenly  changed. 

"Oh,  very  well,"  he  said,  quietly;  "I  will  go.  It  k 
all  right.  I  see  you  do  not  care  for  me,  anyway.  I 
may  find  some  one  who  does  some  time.  I  will  not 
trouble  you  again,  Miss  Lee.  If  we  never  meet  again 
as  friends  you  will  have  no  one  but  yourself  to  blame. 
I  hope  you  may  be  happy.  Good-evening." 

He  retreated  to  the  door  and  bowed  himself  out.  In 
the  hall  he  found  his  hat  and  coat,  and  he  lost  no  time 
in  getting  out  of  the  house,  as  he  knew  how  change- 
able girls  are,  and  he  felt  that  she  might  call  him  back 
at  any  moment. 

He  was  right.  Barely  was  he  out  of  the  house,  when 
Winnie  came  rushing  into  the  hall. 

"Frank!  Frank!"  she  called. 

The  door  was  closed,  and  she  heard  his  step  on  the 
stone  walk  outside.  Pressing  her  hands  to  her  bosom, 
she  listened  till  he  could  be  heard  no  longer. 

Then  she  fairly  flew  up  the  stairs  to  her  room.     Sh 
fastened  the  door  behind  her  and  flung  herself  on  the 
bed,  bursting  into  tears. 

"Oh,  I  hate  him— I  hate  him !"  she  cried.  "I  think 
he  is  the  meanest  fellow — just  the  very  meanest !  To 


Winnie  Lee  Again.  231 

think  that  he  could  leave  me  like  that !  As  if  he  didn't 
know  I  really  did  not  mean  all  I  was  saying!  Boys 
are  such  fools,  anyway !  He  went  away  without  mak- 
ing up — I  do  hate  him — I  do !  I  do !" 

Then  she  lay  there  and  sobbed  as  if  her  heart  were 
breaking.  At  length  her  sobs  grew  less  violent,  and 
then  finally  died  to  a  convulsive  catching  of  the 
breath. 

"Frank !"  she  whispered,  "dear  Frank !  You  are  the 
noblest  fellow  in  all  the  world!  What  other  fellow 
would  have  done  what  you  did  for  Evan  Hartwick? 
Oh,  no !  I  do  not  hate  you,  Frank — I  do  not  hate  you ! 
What  if  you  have  had  other  girls  ?  The  girl  who  did 
not  admire  you  would  be  a  fool!  I  am  a  bad,  mean 
girl,  Frank!  Won't  you  forgive  me — won't  you, 
please,  Frank?" 

And  so,  lying  on  the  bed,  having  forgotten  to  un- 
dress, she  fell  asleep  and  dreamed  of  Frank  Merriwell. 

"How  much  like  a  girl  that  was!"  thought  Frank, 
as  he  hurried  from  the  house.  "She  was  unreasoning, 
and  she  expected  to  bring  me  to  my  knees  before  her. 
She  hardly  thought  I  would  leave  so  suddenly.  I 
am  really  sorry  to  pain  the  little  girl,  but  she  would 
have  felt  too  sure  of  me  if  I  had  played  into  her  hands 
as  she  anticipated.  Now  she  will  wish  she  had  not 
commanded  me  to  go,  and  the  chances  are  ten  to  one 


232  Winnie  Lee  Again. 

that  I'll  receive  a  letter  from  her  tomorrow  asking 
me  to  call." 

Frank  resolved  that  he  would  not  call  again  till  Win- 
nie invited  him.  In  this  matter  he  would  make  her 
give  in  or  he  would  remain  away.  He  knew  she  would 
think  all  the  more  of  him  if  he  did  so.  He  had  not 
been  to  blame,  and  so  his  conscience  did  not  smite 
him. 

But  he  fell  to  thinking  of  what  Winnie  had  said  of 
other  girls.  Certainly  there  had  been  other  girls  whom 
he  had  admired — girls  whom,  in  his  boyish  way,  he  had 
felt  that  he  had  loved. 

He  had  not  forgotten  Inza  Burrage — dark-eyed 
Inza,  who  had  made  such  an  impression  on  his  boyish 
heart  while  he  was  a  student  at  the  military  academy. 

It  seemed,  however,  that  Inza  had  forgotten  him, 
for  she  had  ceased  to  write  to  him,  and  he  had  lost  all 
trace  of  her. 

There  was  another,  however,  of  whom  he  thought 
even  more  tenderly  than  Inza.  That  other  was  Elsie 
Bellwood,  the  old  sea  captain's  daughter — sweet,  gentle 
little  Elsie,  with  the  sunny  hair  and  trusting  eyes. 

In  Frank's  heart  Elsie  Bellwood  had  won  a  place  un- 
occupied by  any  other  girl.  She  was  so  trusting  and 
clinging,  so  innocent  and  childlike,  that  he  felt  more 
like  a  big  brother  to  her  than  anything  else. 


Winnie  Lee  Again.  233 

Elsie  had  been  very  dear  to  him.  It  had  been  his 
fortune  to  rescue  her  from  many  grave  perils,  and  with 
her  soft  round  arms  clinging  about  his  neck,  her  golden 
hair  brushing  his  cheek,  he  had  often  felt  that  he  could 
die  for  Elsie. 

But  Elsie  was  Inza's  friend,  and  she  had  feared  that 
she  was  doing  wrong  in  caring  for  Frank.  Inza  had 
known  Frank  first,  and  she  had  been  kind  to  Elsie.  El- 
sie did  not  wish  to  betray  her  friend,  and  she  had  tried 
to  forget  Frank. 

Fate,  however,  had  flung  them  together  several  times. 
It  had  enabled  Frank  to  aid  in  rescuing  Elsie  from  a 
shipwreck,  to  save  her  from  ruffians  in  the  Florida 
Everglades,  and  to  save  her  from  a  gorilla  in  the  heart 
of  an  African  forest. 

How  could  Elsie  conceal  her  love  after  all  that? 
She  found  it  impossible,  and  she  found  that  Frank  had 
cared  very  much  for  her  from  the  first. 

But  the  memory  of  Inza  haunted  her.  She  had  re- 
solved again  and  again  that  she  would  cease  to  corre- 
spond with  Frank.  Finally  she  had  done  so,  and  as 
she  was  on  board  ship  with  her  father,  it  was  not  an 
easy  thing  for  Frank  to  keep  trace  of  her. 

Thus  it  came  about  that  Frank  had  heard  nothing 
from  Inza  or  Elsie  in  a  very  long  time.  It  was  natural 
that  he  should  begin  to  believe  that  both  girls  had 


234  Winnie  Lee  Again. 

ceased  to  care  for  him.  All  his  letters  remained  un- 
answered, and  he  gave  up  writing. 

Then  came  his  friendship  with  Winnie  Lee. 

In  many  ways  Winnie  reminded  Frank  of  both 
Inza  and  Elsie.  She  looked  like  Elsie  and  she  had 
Inza's  proud  spirit  and  jealous  nature.  Inza  had  filled 
Frank  with  admiration,  while  Elsie  had  aroused  his  af- 
fections and  sympathy  by  her  gentle,  clinging,  trust- 
ing nature.  Winnie  seemed  to  have  a  touch  of  both 
characteristics. 

In  the  morning  after  she  had  sent  Frank  away  Win- 
nie was  filled  with  remorse  and  regret.  She  felt  that 
she  had  seriously  offended  him,  and  she  knew  that  she 
was  in  the  wrong.  It  was  not  an  easy  thing  for  her  to 
think  of  confessing  as  much,  however. 

Winnie  was  miserable.  Two  days  passed,  and  her 
moods  were  strangely  changeable.  At  times  she  would 
be  all  laughter  and  apparent  lightness  of  spirit,  but  she 
was  likely  to  be  depressed  and  ready  to  burst  into  tears 
over  the  simplest  matter  a  few  moments  later. 

Girl-like,  she  told  herself  over  and  over  that  she  was 
the  most  miserable  person  in  the  world.  She  vowed 
that  she  would  never  have  another  word  to  say  to 
Frank — never!  never!  A  few  minutes  later  she  would 
decide  that  she  would  drop  him  a  note,  asking  him  to 
call,  and  beg  his  pardon. 


Winnie  Lee  Again<  235 

But  would  he  call  if  she  asked  him  ?  That  question 
troubled  her.  She  remembered  his  proud  dignity  as 
he  took  his  departure,  and  she  feared  that  matters 
could  never  again  be  the  same  between  them. 

She  did  write  several  notes,  or  begin  to  write  them, 
but  she  was  not  satisfied  with  the  wording  of  them,  and 
she  tore  up  one  after  another. 

Finally,  one  day  as  she  was  out  shopping  she  saw 
Frank  at  a  distance.  He  did  not  see  her,  and  she  made 
no  effort  to  meet  him.  But  when  she  returned  home 
she  immediately  sat  down  and  wrote  a  brief  note,  ask- 
ing him  to  call  and  stating  that  she  had  something  to 
tell  him. 

"Please  come,"  were  her  final  words. 

But  that  note  was  never  mailed. 

Each  day  Frank  looked  for  a  line  from  Winnie,  and 
he  wondered  that  none  came.  Was  it  possible  that  she 
had  determined  that  all  was  ended  between  them  ?  Was 
it  possible  that  she  was  so  spirited  she  would  not  be 
the  first  to  make  advances  toward  a  reconciliation? 

"If  that  is  the  case,"  said  Frank,  grimly,  "I  fear 
there  will  be  no  reconciliation." 

Then  he  saw  her  pass  in  a  carriage.  She  looked  at 
him,  and  he  was  certain  she  was  on  the  point  of  recog- 
nizing him,  so  he  lifted  his  hat  and  smiled. 


236  Winnie  Lee  Again. 

That  smile  froze  on  his  face,  for  Winnie  gave  him 
a  cold  stare,  as  if  he  were  an  image  of  stone. 

She  had  cut  him ! 

That  was  altogether  too  much  for  Frank  to  endure 
without  a  feeling  of  resentment,  and  his  teeth  came  to- 
gether with  a  click. 

"She  is  unjust!"  he  thought.  "This  settles  every- 
thing!" 

From  that  moment  he  tried  to  put  Winnie  Lee  out 
of  his  mind,  and  he  went  at  his  studies  and  athletic  ex- 
ercises with  redoubled  energy.  He  was  determined  to 
be  in  the  very  finest  physical  condition  for  the  spring 
matches.  He  was  sure  of  the  'Varsity  nine,  and  it  was 
said  that  he  would  try  for  the  crew.  Frank  did  not 
say  much  about  his  intentions  himself. 

He  had  not  the  least  idea  that  Evan  Hartwick  had 
struck  him  a  blow,  but  such  was  the  fact. 

Then  there  were  rumors  that  Merriwell's  father  bore 
a  very  bad  reputation.  It  was  said  that  he  had  deserted 
his  family,  that  he  was  a  gambler.  It  was  even  hinted 
that  he  was  a  convict. 

Rattleton  heard  these  rumors,  and  he  was  indignant. 
He  denounced  them  as  fabrications  of  the  worst  sort. 

But  when  Rattleton  was  questioned  as  to  what  he 
knew  about  Merriwell's  father,  he  was  forced  to  con- 
fess that  he  knew  very  little.  Frank  had  sometimes 


Winnie  Lee  Again.  237 

spoken  of  his  mother,  but  hardly  ever,  if  ever,  of  his 
father. 

Harry  believed  that  Frank's  enemies  were  working 
insidiously  to  injure  him,  but  he  could  not  seem  to  ob- 
tain proof  to  that  effect.  He  did  not  like  to  speak  to 
Frank  of  the  matter,  and  thus  it  stood  as  spring 
came  on. 

Eunice  Darley  came  on  to  New  Haven,  and  she  was 
often  seen  with  Winnie  Lee.  Once  Frank  saw  Eunice 
and  Evan  Hartwick  together. 

That  was  enough  to  make  Frank  feel  rather  resentful 
toward  Eunice. 

"She  is  like  most  girls,"  Merriwell  thought  "Their 
friendship  is  of  the  most  fickle  sort.  I  believe  she  has 
cared  for  that  fellow  Hartwick  all  along." 

Rattleton  was  watching  Hartwick  as  a  cat  watches  a 
mouse.  He  was  determined  to  know  if  Hartwick  was 
still  working  to  injure  Merriwell.  This  surveillance 
led  him  to  arrive  at  the  conclusion  that  Hartwick  was 
again  working  to  get  into  Winnie  Lee's  good  graces 
through  the  influence  of  Eunice  Darley. 

"That  fellow  ought  to  be  shot !"  was  Rattleton's  men- 
tal comment.  "I'll  wager  something  that  he  is  hanged 
some  day !" 

Harry  was  discerning  enough  to  discover  that  Frank 
and  Winnie  were  at  outs,  but  he  felt  that  was  a  point 


238  Winnie  Lee  Again. 

on  which  he  did  not  care  to  question  Merriwell  unless 
a  particularly  good  opportunity  occurred.  Although 
he  was  Frank's  roommate,  he  was  impressed  with  a 
feeling  of  respect  for  Merriwell  that  would  not  allow 
him  to  become  familiar  on  certain  matters. 

Merriwell  kept  so  close  to  his  studies  and  to  his  work 
in  the  gymnasium  that  he  did  not  happen  to  meet  Eu- 
nice. He  sometimes  wondered  if  she,  also,  would 
cut  him  if  they  happened  to  meet. 

Then  came  the  vacation  before  the  spring  term. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

A    RACE     FOR     LIFE. 

When  Frank  returned  to  New  Haven  he  resumed 
college  life  with  a  zest  that  was  peculiar  with  him. 

He  had  not  forgotten  Winnie  Lee  by  any  means, 
and  he  wondered  if  Eunice  Darley  was  still  in  New 
Haven. 

One  afternoon  he  started  to  walk  out  toward  Win- 
nie's home.  Something  seemed  to  lead  him  in  that  di- 
rection. 

He  was  walking  along  at  a  brisk  pace,  when  there 
came  a  sudden  rattle  of  wheels  and  clatter  of  hoofs. 
Then  a  runaway  horse,  dragging  a  carriage  in  which 
was  a  single  occupant,  dashed  around  a  corner. 

One  glance  showed  Frank  that  the  occupant  of  the 
carriage  was  a  girl,  and  she  had  lost  the  reins. 

As  the  horse  came  tearing  around  the  corner  the  car- 
riage was  nearly  overturned,  but  it  did  not  quite  upset. 

With  ears  laid  back,  nostrils  dilated,  eyes  filled  with 
a  mad  fear,  and  foam  flying  from  its  open  jaws,  the 
animal  came  tearing  along  the  street,  dragging  the 
rocking  carriage. 

If  the  horse  was  not  stopped  a  catastrophe,  possibly 


240  A  Race  for  Life. 

a  fatal  accident,  might  occur — was  almost  certain  to 
occur. 

And  the  girl  in  the  carriage?  Frank  caught  a  fair 
look  at  her  face  and  recognized  her. 

It  was  Winnie  Lee ! 

There  was  no  time  for  meditation ;  it  was  a  time  for 
instant  action. 

Frank  ran  toward  the  center  of  the  street  to  make 
an  attempt  to  stop  the  runaway. 

"I  will  save  her!"  was  his  determination. 

There  was  no  hesitation  because  of  the  danger  to 
himself.  There  was  not  even  a  thought  of  danger. 

He  poised  himself  to  make  a  spring  for  the  horse's 
head  and  at  the  moment  when  he  was  about  to  leap  he 
received  a  heavy  blow  on  the  back  of  the  head  that  cast 
him  prostrate  before  the  frightened  runaway ! 

Frank  was  stunned.  The  horse  and  carriage  was 
right  upon  him  and  it  seemed  that  he  must  be  crushed 
beneath  the  horse's  feet  and  the  wheels. 

Even  though  the  boy  had  not  been  helpless  to  get 
out  of  the  way  there  was  no  time  for  him  to  do  so. 

He  had  been  struck  down  in  a  most  cowardly  manner 
just  as  he  was  on  the  point  of  attempting  to  save  an- 
other human  being  at  imminent  peril  of  life  and  limb. 

No  human  power  could  save  Merriwell  from  injury 
at  that  moment. 


A  Race  for  Life.  241 

But  the  horse  had  vaguely  seen  two  figures  rush  out 
as  if  to  block  its  path.  It  saw  one  of  those  figures 
drop  and  with  a  snort  it  sheered. 

The  girl  in  the  carriage  screamed.  She  believed 
that  the  wheels  of  the  carriage  passed  over  the  pros- 
trate figure  and  her  horror  was  unutterable. 

The  carriage  careened.  It  spun  along  on  two  wheels. 
It  seemed  bound  to  go  over  in  one  grand  crash,  but  it 
righted. 

The  girl  had  clung  fast  with  both  hands.  Otherwise 
she  must  have  been  flung  out.  As  it  was  she  barely 
held  on. 

Frank  Merriwell  lifted  himself  from  the  dirt.  A 
figure  was  just  vanishing  around  a  corner  and  he  ob- 
tained an  indistinct  glance  of  the  fellow  who  had  struck 
him  down. 

The  horse  was  madly  tearing  down  the  street  and 
the  girl  was  still  clinging  fast  in  the  carriage. 

Frank's  first  impulse  was  to  rush  after  the  cowardly 
ruffian  who  had  struck  him  and  then  he  sprang  up  and 
staggered  after  the  runaway. 

"Winnie!"  he  hoarsely  gasped.  "She  will  be  killed!" 

The  knowledge  of  her  frightful  peril  drove  all 
thoughts  of  himself  from  his  head. 

But  he  could  do  nothing  to  save  her.  His  oppor- 
tunity was  past. 


242  A  Race  for  Life. 

Was  it? 

At  the  next  corner  a  saddled  and  bridled  horse 
was  hitched  to  an  iron  post,  its  owner  having  left  it 
there  a  short  time  before.  It  showed  its  spirit  by 
snorting  and  rearing  as  the  runaway  dashed  past. 

Frank  saw  that  horse  and  new  life  came  into  his 
body  like  a  flash.  He  dashed  toward  the  horse,  taking 
from  his  pocket  a  clasp  knife  as  he  ran. 

His  thumb  touched  a  spring  and  the  knife  flew  open. 

The  horse  was  reached  just  as  the  owner,  attracted 
by  the  noise  of  the  runaway,  came  running  out  of  a 
shop. 

With  a  single  slash  of  the  knife  Frank  cut  the  strap 
that  held  the  horse.  With  a  bound  he  was  in  the 
saddle. 

"Hey  .there !     Stop  it !     Get  off !" 

The  owner  rushed  toward  Frank  shouting  and  wav- 
ing his  hands. 

"Go — git !"  cried  Merriwell  as  he  dropped  the  knife 
and  brought  his  hand  down  with  a  sharp  slap  upon 
the  horse's  rump. 

The  animal  reared  and  pawed  the  air. 

"You'll  be  killed!"  shouted  the  owner.  "Get  off 
quick !" 

Down  came  the  horse's  forward  feet,  away  it  shot 
like  a  rocket  and  the  boy  on  its  back  sat  there  as  if 


A  Race  for  Life.  24} 

glued  to  the  saddle.  Again  his  hand  arose  and  fell 
sharply. 

People  were  running  along  the  street  after  the  run- 
away, dogs  were  barking,  and  the  sound  of  shouting 
voices  could  be  heard. 

But  Frank  heard  none  of  these  sounds.  His  eyes 
were  fixed  on  that  figure  in  the  carriage  ahead,  his 
teeth  were  set  and  he  was  breathing  a  prayer  that  the 
catastrophe  might  be  averted.  A  policeman  ran  out 
and  tried  to  stop  the  runaway.  He  missed  the  bit  and 
was  struck  by  the  wheels  of  the  carriage.  It  was  a 
brave  attempt,  but  he  was  seriously  injured,  and  he  lay 
writhing  in  the  street. 

The  policeman's  unsuccessful  effort  had  caused  the 
runaway  to  sheer  again  and  once  more  Frank's  heart 
arose  in  his  mouth,  for  he  saw  the  carriage  nearly  go 
over. 

"Heaven  protect  her!  Heaven  save  her!"  he  mur- 
mured. 

Then  his  hand  rose  and  fell  once  more  and  he  leaned 
far  forward  in  the  saddle  crying  in  the  ears  of  the 
horse  he  bestrode : 

"On,  good  boy — fly!  We  must  reach  her  in  time! 
Everything  depends  on  us  now !  Go,  boy — go !" 

And  it  seemed  that  the  horse  understood,  for  he  re- 
sponded with  a  burst  of  speed  that  was  astonishing. 


244  A  Race  for  Life. 

His  iron-shod  hoofs  clattered  over  the  stones  from 
which  sparks  of  fire  flew  now  and  then. 

It  was  a  thrilling  spectacle  for  those  who  witnessed 
it — it  was  a  race  for  life.  They  regarded  the  white- 
faced,  determined-looking  lad  with  wonder  and  admi- 
ration— they  cheered  him  on. 

"He  will  stop  the  runaway !"  cried  one. 

"If  he  overtakes  it  before  there  is  a  smash-up,"  said 
another. 

A  trolley  car  came  clanging  along  a  cross  street.  The 
motorman  saw  the  oncoming  runaway,  turned  pale, 
threw  off  the  power,  and  applied  the  brake  with  all  his 
strength. 

A  wheel  of  the  carriage  grazed  the  fender  of  the  car 
as  the  runaway  tore  past. 

Then  came  the  beardless  lad  in  pursuit,  and  it  was 
plain  that  he  saw  nothing  but  the  object  he  was  pur- 
suing. 

"God  help  him!"  gasped  the  motorman. 

A  heavy  truck  was  crossing  the  street.  The  driver 
saw  the  runaway  and  turned  his  horses  aside  just  in 
time  to  avert  a  crash. 

All  the  while  Frank  Merriwell  was  drawing  nearer 
and  nearer,  steadily  gaining,  and  yet  to  the  agonized 
lad  it  seemed  that  the  horse  he  bestrode  was  creeping. 


A  Race  for  Life.  245 

So  many  catastrophes  had  been  narrowly  escaped 
that  it  did  not  seem  possible  another  could  be  averted. 

How  well  Frank  knew  that  trim  figure  in  the  car- 
riage !  Never  had  Winnie  seemed  dearer  to  him  than 
at  that  moment. 

"I  will  save  you,  my  queen!"  he  murmured.  "I 
must!" 

He  was  close  behind  the  carriage,  the  nose  of  his 
horse  was  at  the  rear  wheel,  and  he  gradually  crept 
alongside, 

"Cling  fast,  Winnie!"  he  called.  "Hang  on,  and 
I  will  save  you !" 

He  was  sure  of  it  now,  and  a  feeling  of  exultation 
filled  his  heart.  In  a  few  moments  more  he  would  have 
the  runaway  by  the  bit,  and  then  he  felt  that  he  would 
bring  it  to  a  halt. 

And  then,  just  as  he  stretched  out  his  hand  the  mad 
animal  attached  to  the  carriage  swerved  against  him 
with  great  violence  and  he  reeled  in  the  saddle ! 

"He's  off!" 

"The  runaway  has  upset  him!" 

"Look!  look!" 

"Hurrah!  hurrah r 

Although  staggered,  he  had  not  been  thrown  from 
the  saddle,  as  the  excited  spectators  of  the  scene  at  first 


246  A  Race  for  Life. 

thought.  He  recovered  with  an  effort  and  again  sent 
his  mount  along  by  the  side  of  the  other  horse. 

Then,  swift  and  sure,  he  reached  out  and  clutched 
the  ring  of  the  runaway's  bit. 

But  it  was  not  all  over.     The  danger  was  not  past. 

The  frightened  animal  had  a  hard  mouth,  and  it  was 
mad  with  fear.  It  did  not  seem  to  feel  Frank  at  first, 
and  then  it  madly  tried  to  tear  away. 

A  struggle  royal  ensued.  Frank  made  the  horse  feel 
his  strength,  which  was  something  remarkable  for  a 
youth  of  his  years.  Then  he  began  to  talk  to  both 
animals,  holding  his  own  horse  in  check  by  the  touch 
of  his  left  hand  on  the  reins. 

Frank  felt  a  thrill  of  satisfaction  over  the  way  the 
animal  he  bestrode  behaved,  and  he  realized  that  the 
horse  possessed  unusual  intelligence.  It  seemed  to  un- 
derstand the  words  the  boy  was  softly  pouring  into  its 
ears. 

"Steady  boy — easy,  easy !  We  are  the  masters  here. 
Whoa,  now !  This  is  the  way  we  do  it,  boy.  Whoa ! 
Good  boy — noble  boy!  I'll  own  you,  if  it  takes  my 
last  dollar!" 

He  talked  to  the  other  horse  in  the  same  calm  way. 
His  voice  was  soft  and  soothing — it  was  like  music. 
The  sound  of  his  words  gradually  quelled  the  fears  of 


A  Race  for  Life.  247 

the  crazed  animal,  and,  little  by  little,  he  brought  the 
runaway  to  a  slower  pace. 

At  length  Frank  forced  the  horse  to  a  dead  stand, 
still  holding  fast  with  a  grip  of  iron  to  the  bit,  and 
still  talking  soothingly  to  the  quivering,  terrified  beast. 

Ready  hands  came  to  his  assistance,  and  when  he 
was  sure  the  runaway  was  held  by  those  competent  of 
caring  for  him,  he  turned  toward  the  carriage. 

In  the  bottom,  lying  in  a  limp  heap,  was  Winnie 
Lee,  in  a  dead  faint. 

Excited  persons  were  praising  Frank  for  what  he 
had  done;  were  asking  him  a  hundred  questions,  and 
were  crowding  about  the  carriage. 

"Who  is  this  girl  ?"  demanded  an  officer,  as  he  forced 
himself  to  the  side  of  the  carriage. 

Frank  was  off  the  horse  that  had  proved  invaluable 
in  the  work  of  rescue,  and  he  lifted  Winnie  from  the 
carriage. 

"Make  room!"  he  commanded.  "Where  is  the 
nearest  drug  store?" 

It  happened  there  was  a  store  nearby,  and  thither  he 
swiftly  carried  her.  A  doctor  appeared,  and  Winnie 
was  taken  into  the  little  office  at  the  back  of  the  store. 

"Simply  overcome  by  fright,"  said  the  doctor.  "She 
will  revive  in  a  few  moments,  and  I  scarcely  think  there 
will  be  any  serious  result." 


248  A  Race  for  Life. 

The  doctor  worked  over  Winnie,  and  she  soon  began 
to  breathe  gaspingly,  the  color  came  to  her  cheeks,  her 
eyelids  fluttered,  and  her  eyes  opened.  She  looked 
about  in  wonder. 

"Why,"  she  faintly  exclaimed,  "what  has  happened 
to  me?  Oh,  I  know!  The  dog  frightened  Dandy — 
he  ran  away!" 

She  turned  faint  again,  but  was  given  a  little  water, 
and  fanned  till  she  quite  recovered. 

"I  thought  I  should  be  killed!"  she  murmured.  "Then 
I  saw  Frank !  I  saw  him  struck  down  beneath  Dandy's 
feet!  Oh,  it  was  terrible!" 

She  pressed  her  hands  over  her  eyes,  as  if  the  picture 
was  before  her.  Then  she  sat  up,  and,  unmindful  of 
those  about  her,  stretched  out  one  hand,  speaking 
swiftly : 

"But  he  was  not  killed !  I  next  saw  him  at  my  side, 
mounted  on  a  horse !  He  spoke  to  me !  Then  he  got 
Dandy  by  the  bit,  and — and — I  do  not  remember  any 
more." 

She  looked  around. 

"He  must  have  stopped  Dandy,"  she  said  "Where 
is  he?" 

"If  you  mean  the  young  man  who  saved  you,  he  was 
here  a  moment  ago,"  said  the  druggist.  "He  must 
have  stepped  outside." 


A  Race  for  Life.  249 

"Please  send  for  him,"  said  Winnie,  with  sudden 
calmness.  "I  must  see  him  at  once." 

But  when  they  went  to  look  for  Merriwell  it  was 
found  that  he  had  departed.  He  had  even  refused  to 
give  his  name,  but  said  that  he  must  return  the  horse, 
with  whose  aid  he  affected  the  rescue,  and  had  abruptly 
mounted  and  ridden  away,  having  given  the  policeman 
the  name  and  address  of  the  young  lady  he  had  rescued. 

"Most  remarkable  conduct,"  was  the  general  com- 
ment. 

Some  one  said  the  rescuer  was  a  stranger  in  the  city 
who  was  visiting  there,  and  others  declared  he  belonged 
there.  One  or  two  affirmed  that  he  was  a  student 

When  Winnie  Lee  was  told  that  Frank  had  departed 
without  waiting  to  hear  her  thanks,  an  expression  of 
pain  and  regret  came  quickly  to  her  face. 

"He  is  so  proud!"  she  thought.  "He  would  not 
give  me  a  chance  to  say  a  word.  But  I  will  see  him 
and  thank  him,  at  least !" 

The  runaway  was  taken  to  its  stable  by  an  officer, 
and  Winnie  was  carried  home  in  the  carriage  of  the 
physician  who  happened  to  be  in  the  drug  store. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

FRANK   BUYS   A    HORSE. 

Frank  Merriwell  had  suddenly  fled  to  escape  the  ad- 
miring stares  and  compliments  of  the  crowd.  He  left 
the  drug  store  to  look  after  the  horse  he  had  bor- 
rowed without  its  owner's  consent,  and  found  himself 
immediately  surrounded  by  a  gaping  throng.  He 
heard  excited  persons  telling  of  his  wonderful  deed,  and 
he  was  stared  at  and  questioned  and  crowded  upon. 

"By  Jove!  This  is  more  than  I  can  endure!"  he 
thought,  in  dismay. 

When  he  found  himself  beside  the  splendid  horse 
with  whose  aid  he  had  stopped  the  runaway,  he  gave 
an  officer  Winnie's  name  and  address,  and  then,  re- 
fusing to  answer  further  questions,  swung  into  the  sad- 
dle, broke  from  the  crowd,  and  galloped  away. 

"I  don't  suppose  I  ought  to  leave  Winnie  like  this," 
he  thought ;  "but  she  is  safe  now,  and  they  will  see  that 
she  gets  home  all  right.  I  have  done  my  duty." 

Now  that  it  was  all  over  he  remembered  how  he  had 
been  treated  by  Winnie,  and  his  pride  surged  to  the  sur- 
face, surmounting  his  regard  for  the  charming  girl. 

"She  would  feel  called  upon  to  thank  me  if  I  lin- 


Frank  Buys  a  Horse.  251 

gered,  and  it  might  prove  rather  unpleasant  for  us 
both,"  he  meditated.  "I  saved  her.  Perhaps  she  may 
realize  that  I  have  some  pride  left  if  I  do  not  see  her  at 
once." 

He  thought  he  would  send  some  flowers,  and  write 
?  .ote  expressing  his  hope  that  she  was  unharmed.  In 
that  manner  he  could  do  all  that  courtesy  demanded  of 
one  in  his  position. 

But  when  he  came  to  meditate  in  that  matter  his 
spirit  rebelled  against  it.  He  believed  the  flowers 
would  seem  like  a  supplication  for  forgiveness,  and  he 
had  done  nothing  for  which  he  sought  forgiveness. 

He  finally  decided  that  he  would  not  even  send  the 
note,  although  it  might  be  a  breach  of  the  natural  laws 
of  politeness. 

She  had  seen  him,  and  she  knew  who  saved  her.  If 
she  wished  to  thank  him  she  might  write. 

Frank  was  riding  along,  thinking  of  this  matter, 
when  a  voice  hailed  him : 

"Hey,  there,  you!  That  horse — it  is  mine,  young 
man!" 

He  looked  up  and  saw  a  gentleman  in  riding  suit  and 
boots  eagerly  waving  a  whip  at  him  from  the  curbing 
of  the  sidewalk. 

Frank  had  seen  the  owner  of  the  horse  rush  toward 
him  from  the  shop,  and,  although  he  had  obtained  but 


252  Frank  Buys  a  Horse. 

a  glance  at  the  moment,  he  recognized  this  as  the  same 
man. 

The  boy  immediately  reined  the  horse  in  toward  the 
sidewalk  and  drew  him  up. 

"Young  man,  how  dared  you  do  such  a  thing?"  de- 
manded the  gentleman,  severely.  "Didn't  you  hear 
me  command  you  to  stop?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"But  you  did  not  stop." 

"No,  sir." 

"Why  not — why  not,  young  man  ?  You  must  have 
known  it  was  my  horse." 

"I  did." 

"And  you  refused  to  obey  me?  Astonishing!  Amaz- 
ing!" 

"The  life  of  a  young  lady  was  in  peril — a  young  lady 
whom  I  knew,"  explained  Frank,  with  perfect  calmness, 
although  his  nerves  had  not  ceased  to  quiver  and  tingle 
after  the  exciting  adventure  through  which  he  had  just 
passed.  "It  was  my  duty  to  save  her,  and  I  believed 
I  could  do  so  with  the  aid  of  your  horse.  I  had  no 
time  to  ask  leave  to  take  your  horse,  sir.  I  presume 
you  saw  the  runaway?" 

"I  did." 

"Then  you  must  understand  my  reasons  for  taking 


Frank  Buys  a  Horse.  253 

your  horse  and  paying  no  attention  to  your  command 
to  stop." 

"Did  you  overtake  the  runaway?" 

"I  did,  sir." 

"And  stopped  it?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Good  old  Nemo!"  cried  the  gentleman,  patting  the 
horse's  sweat-stained  neck.  "The  blood  is  there !" 

Frank  now  began  to  observe  the  horse,  and  saw  that 
it  was  a  handsome  bay  gelding,  with  the  marks  of 
blood  and  breeding  in  every  limb  and  outline. 

Frank  had  dismounted,  and  was  standing  at  the 
edge  of  the  sidewalk.  Up  to  that  moment  he  had  not 
been  given  an  opportunity  to  survey  and  inspect  the 
horse. 

"My  boy,"  said  the  man,  turning  to  Frank,  "you  are 
the  third  person  who  has  ever  ridden  this  horse.  The 
man  who  trained  and  broke  him  was  first,  I  was  next, 
and  I  have  never  allowed  any  other  person  to  get  upon 
Nemo's  back.  You  could  not  have  obtained  permis- 
sion to  ride  him." 

"I  understand,"  bowed  the  boy !  "but  I  presume  you 
now  understand  the  urgency  of  the  occasion,  and  I 
trust  you  will  pardon  me  for  what  I  did." 

"As  long  as  you  overtook  and  stopped  the  runaway,  I 
am  compelled  to  pardon  you.  If  you  had  failed  I 


254  Frank  Buys  a  Horse. 

should  have  felt  like  thrashing  you  within  an  inch  of 
your  life!" 

Frank  smiled. 

"I  am  glad  you  have  no  occasion  to  try  that,"  he 
said. 

"It's  all  right,  young  man.  You  say  you  knew  the 
girl?" 

"Yes,  sir." 

"Who  was  she?" 

"Miss  Winifred  Lee,  daughter  of  Hon.  Fairfax 
Lee." 

"What?  Indeed!  I  am  well  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Lee !  And  you  saved  his  daughter  with  the  aid  of  my 
horse?  Well,  sir,  I  am  rather  proud  of  the  part  my 
horse  took  in  the  affair." 

"Now,"  said  Frank,  looking  the  man  straight  in  the 
eyes,  "I  want  to  buy  this  horse  of  you." 

"Buy  him?  I  guess  not!  You  do  not  know  what 
you  are  saying,  young  man.  This  animal  has  racing 
blood  in  his  veins  and  he  has  a  pedigree.  He  is  not  for 
sale." 

"I  scarcely  think  there  is  anything  in  the  world  in 
the  way  of  property  that  cannot  be  purchased  at  some 
price,  sir." 

"Oh,  but  this  is  no  ordinary  horse  that  is  worth  a 


Frank  Buys  a  Horse.  255 

hundred  or  two  hundred  dollars.  You  have  made  a 
mistake." 

"Possibly  not.  While  I  was  in  pursuit  of  the  run- 
away I  vowed  I  would  own  this  horse,  if  I  succeeded 
in  accomplishing  my  object." 

"Which  was  a  very  foolish  vow.  I  am  sorry  to  dis- 
appoint you." 

"You  have  not  disappointed  me  yet,  sir.  Although 
you  may  think  a  great  deal  of  this  horse,  I  think  you 
would  part  with  him  if  you  could  get  enough  money  in 
exchange." 

The  gentleman  smiled. 

"Perhaps  so,  but  I  have  never  allowed  Nemo  to  run, 
and,  beyond  his  pedigree  and  my  own  estimation  of 
him  I  have  no  idea  of  his  real  value.  I  have  no  doubt 
but  I  might  ask  several  times  what  he  is  worth." 

"Never  mind  that.     Set  a  price,  if  you  please." 

The  man  hesitated  and  looked  at  Frank  sharply. 

"I'll  set  a  price  that  will  settle  him,"  he  thought  "I 
doubt  his  sincerity,  anyway." 

"Do  you  mean  business  ?"  he  asked  aloud. 

"In  asking  you  to  set  a  price — yes,"  smiled  Frank. 

"Well,  I  will  take  one  thousand  dollars  for  Nemc. 

"And  I  will  take  Nemo,"  said  the  boy,  quietly  pro- 
ducing a  roll  of  bills.  "Here  is  fifty  dollars  to  bind  the 
bargain  for  five  days.  If  I  do  not  appear  with  the  re- 


256  Frank  Buys  a  Horse. 

maining  nine  hundred  and  fifty  before  the  expiration 
of  that  time  the  trade  is  off,  and  this  fifty  belongs  to 
you.  Kindly  give  me  a  receipt  worded  to  that  ef- 
fect." 

Frank  went  directly  to  his  rooms,  sat  down  and 
wrote  to  his  guardian,  Professor  Scotch,  and  told  what 
had  happened  that  afternoon.  He  closed  the  letter 
with  a  request  for  one  thousand  dollars  with  which  to 
pay  for  the  horse. 

When  he  had  finished  writing  this  letter  and  pre- 
pared it  for  mailing  he  suddenly  thought  of  the  ruf- 
fian who  had  struck  him  down  in  front  of  the  run- 
away. 

"I'll  have  to  give  that  fellow  my  attention  next,"  he 
muttered.  "I  obtained  no  more  than  a  glimpse  of 
him,  but  I  know  he  was  a  young  man.  It  was  some 
enemy  of  mine.  Miss  Lee  must  have  seen  him,  and 
she  may  be  able  to  give  me  some  information,  for  I 
propose  to  return  with  interest  the  blow  he  struck  me !" 

Frank's  anger  arose  swiftly  as  he  thought  of  the 
cowardly  manner  in  which  he  had  been  struck  down. 

When  Rattleton  came  in  Merriwell  told  him  of  the 
adventure  of  the  afternoon. 

"That  is  simply  tremendous !"  cried  Harry,  excitedly. 
"But  it  is  like  you,  Frank,  to  save  her,  after  all !" 

"It  came  out  all  right,"  said  Frank ;  "but  I  want  to 


Frank  Buys  a  Horse.  257 

know  the  cowardly  cur  who  struck  me,  Harry.  I  will 
give  him  blow  for  blow!" 

"That's  right,  my  boy!  Do  not  let  up  on  him! 
Baste  him !" 

"I  will!  I  promise  you  that.  Why,  it  was  an  at- 
tempt on  my  life !  I  might  have  been  killed !" 

"Of  course,  and  I  know  who  did  it." 

"You  know?" 

"As  well  as  if  I  had  seen  him  deliver  the  blow." 

"You  think  it  was  Hartwick?" 

"I  am  sure  of  it." 

Frank  was  silent  some  moments,  and  then  he  said: 

"I  am  inclined  to  believe  you  are  right,  although  it 
was  not  a  man  who  dressed  like  Hartwick,  as  I  re- 
member him  from  the  glimpse  I  obtained.  I  do  not 
know  that  I  have  another  enemy  in  this  city  who  would 
resort  to  such  a  desperate  and  cowardly  trick.  It  seems 
like  Hartwicjc.  Still  I  have  no  proof  as  yet  that  it 
was  that  fellow.  I  shall  look  for  proof." 

"Proof?"  spluttered  Harry,  excitedly.  "While  you 
are  looking  for  proof  he  may  get  at  you  again  and  job 
the  finish — I  mean  finish  the  job." 

"He  has  not  been  very  successful  in  his  efforts 
against  me  thus  far,  and  I  do  not  think  he  ever  will 
succeed.  The  one  who  struck  me  may  have  been  a 
hired  ruffian." 


258  Frank  Buys  a  Horse. 

"Then  Hartwick  hired  him." 

"Very  likely,  but  I  must  establish  that  fact." 

"When  you  do  you  will  let  up  on  him,  and  he'll  go 
off  without  punishment,  as  usual." 

"Not  this  time,  my  boy.  I  have  vowed  to  return 
blow  for  blow.  I  have  endured  as  much  from  Hart- 
wick  as  I  can,  and  I  shall  show  no  mercy." 

"Bravo,  Frank!"  cried  Rattleton,  as  he  caught  his 
roommate's  hand  and  wrung  it.  "Hang  me  if  I  don't 
believe  you  really  mean  it  this  time !" 

"You'll  find  that  I  do.  I  bought  a  horse  to-day, 
Harry." 

"Eh?     Wheejiz — no,  jeewhiz!     Bought  a  horse?" 

"Yes,  the  horse  with  which  I  overtook  the  runaway. 
He  is  a  handsome  gelding,  and  the  owner  says  he  is  of 
fine  stock." 

"Well,  that  is  like  you !  How  much  did  you  pay  for 
him?" 

"One  thousand  dollars." 

Rattleton  dropped  into  a  sitting  posture  as  if  he  had 
been  shot,  and  stared  at  Frank  stupidly. 

"Say — say,"  he  spluttered.  "If  you  don't  kid  your 
stopping — I  mean  stop  your  kidding " 

"I  am  not  kidding,  old  man.     I  am  in  earnest." 

Harry  gasped. 

"One  thousand  dollars !"  came  huskily  from  his  lips. 


Frank  Buys  a  Horse.  259 

"You  were  hum  out  of  your  ped — I  mean  plumb  out  of 
your  head!  The  excitement  must  have  broken  you 
all  up." 

"That  horse  enabled  me  to  save  Winnie.  The  ani- 
mal would  be  cheap  to  me  at  any  price!" 

"Ginger;  but  you  are  all  broken  up  over  that  girl, 
Frank;  that's  plain.  You've  got  it  bad." 

Frank  flushed  somewhat. 

"Never  mind,"  he  said.  "I  don't  think  it  will  prove 
fatal." 

"And  I  don't  think  Professor  Scotch  will  cough  a 
thousand  dollars  without  investigating  matters." 

"He  never  refuses  me  anything,  and  I  am  sure  I 
have  taken  pains  to  make  my  request  in  a  manner  that 
will  cause  him  to  hesitate  about  refusing  this.  I  think 
he  will  cough  the  thousand,  and  do  the  kicking  after- 
ward." 

"What  will  you  do  with  the  horse  after  you  get  it  ?" 

"Keep  it." 

"Oh,  this  love !"  chuckled  Harry.  "It  is  worse  than 
neuralgia." 

Frank  went  out  and  mailed  his  letter  to  Scotch. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

AN    ASTOUNDING    DEMAND. 

"Hey?"  roared  Professor  Scotch,  readjusting  his 
spectacles  and  glaring  at  the  letter  he  had  been  read- 
ing. "What's  this?  what's  this?  One  thousand  dol- 
lars for  a  horse !  The  boy  is  crazy !" 

Then  he  glared  over  the  top  of  the  letter  at  the  open 
wood  fire,  as  if  it  were  some  person  he  expected  would 
contradict  his  assertion. 

"Hum!  ha!  Ha!  hum!  I  say  the  boy  is  crazy!" 
cried  the  little  man,  excitedly  twisting  his  red  whiskers. 
"He  must  be  trying  a  practical  joke  on  me.  It  will 
not  work — no,  sir!  no,  sir!" 

It  was  a  cool  spring  morning,  and  the  professor  had 
ordered  an  open  fire  built  in  the  library.  He  had  just 
eaten  breakfast,  and  was  now  opening  his  morning 
mail,  still  in  dressing-gown  and  slippers. 

The  very  first  letter  the  professor  picked  up  was  from 
Frank,  much  to  his  satisfaction,  and  he  lost  no  time  in 
opening  it. 

In  a  legal  way  the  professor  was  Frank's  guardian, 
but  in  nearly  everything  else  Frank  was  his  own  master, 
and  Scotch  simply  served  as  a  figurehead. 


An  Astounding  Demand.  261 

There  were  times,  however,  when  Scotch  attempted 
to  assert  his  authority  in  opposition  to  something  Frank 
desired.  It  made  no  difference  that  such  attempts  al- 
ways were  failures.  At  certain  intervals  he  came  up 
smiling  for  renewed  efforts  to  establish  himself. 

And  now  that  Frank  had  called  on  him  for  a  thou- 
sand dollars  with  which  to  purchase  a  horse,  the  pro- 
fessor fancied  it  was  his  opportunity. 

"Preposterous!  ridiculous!  scandalous!"  he  splut- 
tered, excitedly.  "The  boy  says,  'Must  have  the 
money  immediately.'  Hum!  ha!  It  is  remarkable — 
most  remarkable.  Ha!  hum!  Why,  confound  him!" 
roared  the  professor,  glaring  at  the  letter,  "he  orders 
me  to  send  a  check  at  once  on  receipt  of  this !" 

The  little  man  sprang  to  his  feet  and  pranced  wildly 
up  and  down  the  big  old-fashioned  room,  reading  the 
letter  as  he  hopped  abbut,  with  his  dressing-gown  flop- 
ping about  his  legs  and  the  tassels  swishing  about. 

"Why,  he  says  he  must  have  the  check  before  three 
o'clock  to-morrow  afternoon !  Has  deposited  a  sum  as 
a  forfeit.  Will  lose  it  if  he  does  not  receive  check." 

"Not  a  cent  will  he  get !"  thundered  Scotch,  kicking 
a  chair  out  of  his  way — "not  a  single  cent!  Right 
here  is  where  I  show  my  nerve!  I  am  his  guardian, 
and  he'll  find  it  out !  Yes,  by  the  universe !  he'll  find  it 
out!" 


262  An  Astounding  Demand 

Then  the  professor  stumbled  over  the  very  chair  he 
had  kicked  aside  a  moment  before,  and  a  yell  of  pain 
came  from  his  lips.  He  sat  up,  rubbing  a  bruised  shin, 
and  firing  a  few  very  warm  remarks  at  the  chair. 

The  door  cautiously  opened,  and  a  black  face  and 
head,  surmounted  by  kinky  hair,  appeared.  The  face 
wore  an  expression  of  alarm  as  if  its  owner  was  ready 
to  run  for  his  life  at  the  least  provocation. 

"Fo'  de  Lawd's  sakes,  p'ofessor,  what  am  de  mat- 
tah  ?"  asked  the  owner  of  the  frightened  face,  the  eyes 
staring  and  the  thick  lips  blinking  over  the  two  rows  of 
large  white  teeth.  "Whar  am  de  odder  man,  sah?" 

"The  other  man?"  howled  the  enraged  professor. 
"What  other  man,  you  black  blockhead?" 

"Why,  de  man  yo'  wus  a-fightin'  wid,  sah.  I  see  he 
done  knocked  yo'  ober,  an'  I  heered  yeh  habbin'  it 
awful  wid  dat  man  in  heah.  I  was  skeered  ob  mah 
life,  but  I  believed  it  wus  mah  duty  teh  look  in  an'  see 
if  yo'  wus  kilt,  p'ofessor.  I'm  a  pusson  what  alwus 
tries  teh  do  his  duty,  sah." 

"Why,  you  charcoal-complexioned  villain !  if  you  had 
thought  there  was  any  danger,  you  would  have  made  a 
rush  to  get  out  of  the  house !" 

"No,  sah!"  and  the  woolly  head  was  vigorously 
shaken  in  denial;  "yo'  's  shorely  mistaken  dar,  sah. 
Didn'  I  tek  car'  ob  yo',  sah,  dat  time  when  yo'  had  done 


An  Astounding  Demand.  263 

tooken  too  much  ob  dat  cordial  med'cin  what  yo'  gits 
do'n  at  de  saloon — I  means  de  apochumkerr/s?  An 
yo'  wus  a-seein'  all  dem  runnin'  an'  crawlin'  things,  but 
I  nevah  wus  skeered  nor  run  ehway  from  'em,  sah." 

"Get  out,  you  black  rascal!"  roared  Scotch,  as  he 
hurled  one  of  his  slippers  at  the  head,  which  dodged 
from  view,  and  the  door  was  closed  with  a  slam. 

Open  came  the  door,  and  back  came  the  head. 

"I'se  gwine  right  away,  sah,  if  yo'  is  suah  dar  is 
no  dangah.  I  don'  want  tah  leave  yo'  in  dangah,  p'o- 
fessor.  Yo'  is  dead  suah  dar  ain't  nobody  done 
'saulted  yeh,  sah  ?" 

"Come  in  here!"  commanded  Scotch,  as  he  got  upon 
his  feet.  "Come  in  here !"  he  thundered,  as  the  owner 
of  the  head  hesitated. 

"Whut's  yo'  gwine  teh  do,  p'ofessor?  Is  yeh  gwine 
ter  hit  me  wid  anything  hard  ?" 

"No,  I  am  not  going  to  hit  you  at  all,  Toots.  Come 
in." 

The  door  opened  slowly,  and  a  colored  boy  edged 
into  the  room.  He  left  the  door  open  so  he  could 
dodge  out  quickly. 

"Close  that  door!"  shouted  the  professor,  fiercely. 
"What  do  you  want  to  do— freeze  me?  Close  it!" 

The  door  was  closed. 

"Pick  up  that  chair,  Toots." 


164  An  Astounding  Demand. 

The  boy  obeyed. 

"Now,  sir,  I  want  you  to  hear  this  letter — I  want 
somebody  to  hear  it,  and  you  are  the  handiest  person  I 
can  get  hold  of." 

"Yes,  sah." 

Excitedly  walking  the  floor,  the  professor  began  to 
read  the  letter.  At  intervals  he  would  pause  to  glare 
at  Toots  and  demand: 

"What  do  you  think  of  that,  you  scoundrel?" 

"Well,  sah,"  the  darky  finally  said,  "if  yo'  wants  man 
'pinion,  sah,  I'se  gwine  teh  tell  yeh  dat  boy  don'  mek  no 
mistakes.  If  he  sais  he  wants  a  thousan'  dollars  fo'  to 
buy  a  hawse,  sah,  I'd  send  it  to  him." 

"And  that  shows  just  how  much  sense  you  have  in 
that  thick  head!"  roared  the  little  man.  "You  fancy 
everything  Frank  does  is  right.  I  will  not  send  it  to 
him,  and  that  settles  it.  Get  out!  Go!" 

"All  right,  sah,"  grinned  the  boy,  as  he  placed  him- 
self in  the  doorway.  "But  yo'  bettah  take  mah  advice 
an'  done  send  dat  money.  Marser  Frank's  gwine  teh 
be  powerful  mad  if  he  don'  get  it.  'Spects  he  dis- 
charge yo'  from  bein'  his  guardeean." 

"Discharge  me!  Why,  confound  your  insolence, 
he  cannot  discharge  me!  You  talk  as  if  I  were  his 
servant.  Get  out,  I  tell  you !" 


An  Astounding  Demand.  265 

"De  p'ofessor's  med'cine  mus'  hab  disumgreed  wid 
him  dis  mawnin'/'  muttered  Toots,  when  he  had  closed 
the  door.  "I  know  whar  he  keeps  dat  med'cine,  an' 
I'se  gwine  teh  try  it  an'  see  what  sort  ob  stuff  it  is. 
He !  he !  he !  It  won'  be  de  firs'  time." 

After  listening  at  the  door  and  hearing  Scotch  mut- 
tering to  himself  within  the  room,  Toots  stole  softly 
away. 

Scotch  was  greatly  troubled  over  the  contents  of  that 
letter.  He  knew  he  would  offend  Frank  if  he  refused 
to  send  the  money,  and  yet  it  seemed  a  case  of  sheer 
folly  to  pay  such  a  sum  for  a  horse. 

"Perhaps  he  don't  want  to  buy  a  horse  at  all!"  the 
professor  suddenly  exclaimed,  as  a  thought  struck  him. 
"Perhaps  he  is  in  some  sort  of  trouble,  and  he  needs 
the  money  to  get  out  of  it." 

The  more  he  thought  of  this  the  more  probable  it 
seemed.  He  was  thoroughly  familiar  with  Merriwell's 
proclivity  for  getting  into  scrapes,  and  he  finally  de- 
cided that  it  must  be  that  the  boy  had  become  entangled 
in  some  serious  affair  at  Yale. 

"And  he  did  not  want  to  let  me  know  the  truth," 
muttered  Scotch,  who  was  becoming  anxious.  "If  I 
were  to  refuse  to  send  him  the  money,  it  might  mean 
disaster  for  him." 


266  An  Astounding  Demand. 

Thirty  minutes  later  the  professor  rang  for  Toots, 
who  soon  appeared. 

"Get  out  my  brown  suit !  bring  my  boots !  brush  up 
my  silk  hat !  pack  my  traveling  bag !"  shouted  the  pro- 
fessor, as  soon  as  the  darky  appeared.  "Don't  lose  any 
time  about  it !  Do  you  hear  ?" 

"Yes,  sah ;  but  fo'  de  Lawd's  sakes,  what  yo'  gwine 
tell  do,  p'ofessor?" 

"I  am  going  to  take  the  noon  train  for  Boston  by 
way  of  Springfield,  and  I  am  going  to  wire  Frank  to 
meet  me  there." 

"Well,  I  hopes  yeh  gwine  teh  tek  dat  thousan'  dol- 
lars along.  Is  yeh  gwine  teh  do  dat,  sah  ?" 

"None  of  your  business,  you  inquisitive  black  ape! 
Do  what  I  told  you,  and  be  lively  about  it !" 

"All  right,  sah,  all  right,"  grinned  the  colored  boy; 
"but  what  I  sais  wus  fo'  yo'  own  good.  What  shall  I 
put  in  yo'  bag,  sah  ?" 

"Fresh  linen,  necktie,  collars,  my  black  suit — you 
know  what  I  usually  take." 

"Yas,  sah— gin?" 

The  professor  made  a  move  as  if  he  would  throw 
something  at  the  darky,  who  dodged  out  of  the  room, 
chuckling  as  he  did  so. 

"I  know  one  thing  yo'  won'  take,"  muttered  Toots, 


An  Astounding  Demand.  267 

rather  thickly,  as  he  ascended  the  stairs  to  the  profes- 
sor's chamber.  "Dat  is  de  bottle  ob  cordial  med'cine 
what  yo'  keeps  on  de  sideboard.  I've  took  de  mos'  ob 
dat  mahself." 

Toots  had  indeed  sampled  the  professor's  medicine 
i  ather  freely,  with  the  result  that  he  felt  "po'erful  funny 
all  ober,"  as  he  expressed  it. 

Within  half  an  hour  Scotch  left  the  house  and  hur- 
ried away  toward  town,  not  having  thought  to  order 
the  carriage  to  take  him  there,  as  he  was  an  extremely 
forgetful  man. 

In  his  hand  he  carried  a  large  old-fashioned  traveling 
bag,  to  which  he  had  fondly  clung  for  years,  despite  the 
ridicule  it  often  excited. 

Halfway  to  the  town  he  thought  of  the  carriage,  and 
then  he  was  so  mad  he  came  near  turning  back  and  tak- 
ing it  anyway,  but  he  decided  that  he  would  not  be  able 
to  catch  the  train  if  he  did  so,  and  he  went  on. 

He  had  no  time  to  spare  in  drawing  some  money 
from  the  local  bank,  sending  a  telegram  to  Frank,  and 
catching  the  train  for  the  East. 

At  last  he  was  on  his  way,  determined  to  know  just 
why  Frank  wanted  such  a  sum  as  one  thousand  dollars. 

He  had  not  felt  like  letting  Frank  know  that  he  was 
coming  on  for  that  purpose,  so  he  had  dispatched  that 


268  An  Astounding  Demand. 

he  was  on  his  way  to  Boston,  and  asked  the  youth  to 
meet  him  in  Springfield. 

"If  it  is  necessary,  I'll  find  an  excuse  to  go  on  t« 
New  Haven  after  I  meet  him,"  reasoned  the  professor, 
shrewdly. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

PERSUADING   THE   PROFESSOR. 

When  Professor  Scotch  stepped  off  the  train  at 
Springfield  that  evening  Frank  Merriwell  was  on  hand 
to  meet  him. 

Rattleton  and  Diamond  were  with  Frank,  as  he  had 
induced  them  to  take  the  run  up  to  Springfield  in  his 
company. 

"I'll  wager  he  has  brought  them  along  to  take  me  by 
storm,"  thought  Scotch.  "I'll  be  on  my  guard." 

"Professor,  this  is  a  pleasure,"  declared  Frank,  as 
he  wrung  the  hand  of  his  guardian.  "Permit  me  to 
present  Mr.  Diamond,  of  Virginia,  a  particular  friend 
of  mine.  Jack,  this  is  Professor  Scotch,  my  tutor  and 
guardian." 

Jack  shook  hands  with  Scotch. 

"You  met  Mr.  Rattleton  at  the  football  game  in  New 
York,  professor,"  said  Frank.  "I  think  you  will  re- 
member him." 

"Hum !  ha !"  coughed  the  little  man,  with  gruff  dig- 
nity. "I  do  remember  Mr.  Rattleton,  He  was  be- 
hind me  during  the  game.  When  you  went  through 
Princeton's  line  with  the  ball  I  found  him  seated  astride 


270  Persuading  the  Professor. 

my  shoulders  and  banging  me  over  the  head  with  a  tin 
horn.  He  ruined  my  silk  hat.  I  remember  him  very 
well." 

"I  pard  your  begon — I  mean  beg  your  pardon,  pro- 
fessor," said  Harry,  quickly.  "I  was  so  excited  I  didn't 
know  what  I  was  doing,  but  I  think  you  were  the  one 
who  ruined  the  hat.  When  Frank  made  the  touch- 
down you  yanked  it  off  and  smashed  a  woman  on  the 
head  with  it.  You  were  not  satisfied  to  hit  her  once, 
but  you  continued  to  thump  her  with  the  hat,  never 
minding  that  she  was  screaming  blue  murder,  for  you 
were  shouting  so  loudly  yourself  that  you  could  not 
hear  her.  You  made  a  total  wreck  of  her  headgear, 
whatever  it  was!" 

"Ha!  hum!"  came  in  confusion  from  the  professor. 
"I  think  you  are  mistaken,  young  man,  but  there  was 
so  much  excitement  that  a  person  could  scarcely  tell 
what  he  was  doing.  We  will  let  that  matter  drop." 

Then  he  turned  to  Frank,  saying : 

"I  have  but  a  very  short  time  here  in  Springfield,  for 
I  am  going  right  on  to  Boston.  Very  important  busi- 
ness— very.  I  thought  I'd  like  to  see  you  and  speak 
with  you  a  few  moments,  so  I  sent  the  dispatch.  I'm 
glad  you  came." 

"And  I  am  glad  you  came,  professor.  I  presume 
you  brought  the  money  along?" 


Persuading  the  Professor.  271 

"Eh?    Money?    What  money?" 

"What  money  ?  Why,  the  money  I  wrote  you  about 
— the  thousand  dollars  for  that  horse.  You  brought 
it?" 

"Oh,  no!  I  never  carry  so  much  money  about  me. 
Besides  that,  it  is  very  ridiculous,  Frank,  very  ridicu- 
lous, paying  such  a  sum  for  a  horse.  If  you  want  a 
nice  little  saddle  pony,  I'll  send  you  one.  It  will  be  as 
good  as  you  can  ask  for,  and  it  will  not  cost  over  one- 
fifty  or  two  hundred." 

"But  I  do  not  want  your  nice  little  saddle  pony,  pro- 
fessor!" came  sharply  from  Frank.  "What  I  want  is 
the  horse  I  have  bought.  I  wrote  you  I  had  made  a 
t deposit  on  that  horse,  and  I  should  lose  it  if  you  did  not 
forward  the  money  at  once." 

"He !  he !"  laughed  the  professor,  trying  to  playfully 
poke  the  lad  in  the  ribs  with  his  thumb.  "I  know  you 
wrote  that,  but  I  am  up  to  snuff.  You  didn't  fool  me." 

Frank  looked  at  the  professor  severely. 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that?"  he  asked,  sharply. 

"Oh,  I  know  your  jokes — I  know  'em!"  declared 
Scotch,  attempting  to  be  somewhat  playful.  "I  can  tell 
just  when  you  are  in  earnest  and  when  you  are  not." 

"Professor,  you  are  altogether  too  astute !"  exclaimed 
Frank,  holding  in  check  his  indignation.  "I  am  as- 
tonished by  your  unusual  display  of  sagacity." 


272  Persuading  the  Professor. 

"Hum!  ha!"  coughed  the  little  man,  attempting  to 
straighten  up  and  look  dignified.  "I  have  made  hu- 
man nature  one  of  my  chief  studies.  I  am  not  very 
often  deceived.  Now  I  can  tell  exactly  the  character 
and  peculiarities  of  your  two  friends  here.  Mr.  Dia- 
mond is  a  very  lively  and  jolly  young  man,  full  of 
jokes  and  pranks,  but  inclined  to  be  somewhat  timid 
and  retiring.  Rather  than  get  into  trouble,  he  would 
overlook  any  little  offense  or  insult  that  might  be  put 
upon  him  by  a  stranger.  Mr.  Rattleton  is  exactly  the 
reverse.  He  is  grave  and  serious,  but  he  is  altogether 
too  much  of  a  fire-eater,  and  he " 

"You  have  said  quite  enough,  professor,  to  fully  con- 
vince the  fellows  that  you  think  you  know  what  you  are* 
talking  about,"  said  Frank,  who  could  not  wholly  re- 
strain a  smile.     "They  now  know  just  how  accurately 
you  can  read  character  by  the  face." 

"Ah,  yes,  yes!  And  they  must  understand  how 
much  better  I  understand  your  character,  having  had 
such  a  splendid  opportunity  to  study  it." 

"Oh,  yes,  they  understand  it.  But  you  have  made  a 
mistake  in  this  case,  professor.  I  want  this  money, 
and  I  must  have  it.*' 

"Ho !  ho !"  laughed  Scotch.  "You  keep  up  the  joke 
well" 


Persuading  the  Professor.  273 

"It  is  no  joke,  sir,"  came  sharply  and  convincingly 
from  Frank's  lips.  "It  is  business,  professor.  I  must 
have  that  money,  and  I  must  have  it  now." 

"Eh?  My  gracious!  Then  you  are  in  some  kind 
of  trouble?" 

"No,  I  am  not  in  trouble  of  any  sort.  I  have  told 
you  the  truth,  and  I  want  the  money  for  the  purpose 
stated." 

"But,  Frank " 

"There  are  no  'buts'  about  it!  Where  is  the 
money  ?" 

The  professor  took  out  his  handkerchief  and  mopped 
his  face.  He  tried  to  smile,  but  the  attempt  was  a 
sickly  failure.  Instead  of  smiling,  he  looked  fright- 
ened 

Rattleton  drew  back  behind  Diamond,  and  clasped  a 
hand  over  his  mouth  to  keep  from  laughing  outright. 
The  picture  of  would-be  dignity  and  absolute  consterna- 
tion which  the  little  man  presented  was  really  ludicrous. 

"Jee !  but  Frank  is  bound  to  get  that  money !"  Harry 
whispered  in  Diamond's  ear.  "He's  a  corker!  Talk 
about  Professor  Scotch  being  his  guardian!  It  gives 
me  the  he-hes !" 

Diamond  said  nothing.  He  was  interested  in  watch- 
ing the  way  in  which  Frank  brought  Scotch  around. 


274  Persuading  the  Professor. 

"Won't  fuf-fuf-five  hundred  get  you  out  of  the  fuf- 
fuf-fuf-fix?"  stuttered  the  professor,  in  distress. 

"No." 

"It  must  be  a  bad  scrape.  I'll  have  to  go  down  to 
New  Haven  and  see  what  I  can  do  to  get  you  out." 

"I  tell  you  it  is  no  scrape  at  all.  My  friends  will  tell 
you  the  same,  now  that  you  have  seen  fit  to  doubt  my 
word.  I  want  to  buy  a  horse — I  am  going  to  buy  a 
horse — I  have  bought  the  horse!  You  are  going  to 
give  me  the  money  to  pay  for  it." 

Frank  spoke  as  if  there  were  not  a  doubt  in  the 
world  on  that  point. 

"Hum!  ha!"  rumbled  the  little  man,  clearing  his 
throat.  "Business  will  have  to  wait.  I  am  not  going 
to  Boston." 

"No?" 

"No,  sir." 

"Where  are  you  going?" 

"To  New  Haven." 

"What  for?" 

"To  see  that  horse.  I  am  bound  to  take  a  look  at 
the  animal  for  which  you  are  determined  to  pay  such  a 
preposterous  sum  as  one  thousand  dollars.  I  will  de- 
tide  if  it  is  worth  that  sum." 

"It  makes  no  difference  whether  the  horse  is  worth 


Persuading  the  Professor.  275 

the  money  or  not,  I  am  going  to  buy  him  just  the 
same." 

"Crazy!  crazy!"  muttered  the  professor.  "He  must 
be  working  too  hard.  He  may  need  a  rest." 

"All  right,"  said  Frank;  "come  along  and  see  the 
horse.  But  you  will  have  to  furnish  the  stuff  to  buy 
him,  no  matter  what  you  may  think.  I  have  set  my 
heart  on  having  that  horse." 

"There  must  be  some  cause  for  it." 

"There  is.  The  next  train  over  the  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  & 
H.  leaves  in  twenty  minutes.  Come  into  the  waiting- 
room,  professor,  and  I  will  show  you  a  newspaper  clip- 
ping that  will  reveal  why  I  am  so  determined  to  have 
this  horse." 

Frank  led  the  way,  and  they  all  entered  the  waiting- 
room.  It  happened  that  they  went  into  the  side  for 
women. 

"Here,"  said  Frank,  as  they  sat  down  in  a  corner, 
"here  are  some  clippings  you  may  read.  They  tell  you 
how  I  rescued  a  young  lady  from  peril  by  stopping  a 
runaway  horse,  and " 

"That's  the  horse  you  want  to  buy,  hey?"  exploded 
the  little  man,  in  disgust.  "It's  just  like  you !" 

"You  are  mistaken  this  time,  professor.  In  order  to 
stop  the  runaway,  I  was  forced  to  pursue  on  another 


276  Persuading  the  Professor. 

horse,  which  I  took  without  asking  the  owner's  con- 
sent, and——" 

"Didn't  I  say  so!  Didn't  I  know  it!  And  you 
claimed  you  were  not  in  trouble !  He  is  going  to  force 
you  to  pay  a  thousand  dollars  for  the  horse,  or  have 
you  arrested  for  stealing  the  animal!  I  see  through 
the  whole  plot !" 

"You  think  you  do,  but  you  are  away  off.  When  I 
was  pursuing  the  runaway,  I  vowed  that  I  would  own 
the  horse  upon  which  I  was  mounted  if  the  creature 
enabled  me  to  overtake  the  other  horse.  I  said  I  would 
own  him  if  it  took  my  last  dollar  to  buy  him." 

"Boy  like!  boy  like!" 

"In  the  carriage  attached  to  the  runaway  was  a  young 
kdy  whom  I  knew — a  Miss  Lee.  We  are  very  good 
friends,  so  " 

"Oh,  that's  it!"  burst  forth  the  professor.  "It's  an- 
other one!  Will  you  never  get  over  that?" 

Frank  flushed  a  little,  a  look  of  resentment  coming  to 
his  face. 

"I  don't  think  I  understand  you,"  he  said,  severely. 
"I  presume  I  have  a  right  to  become  acquainted  with  a 
young  lady  in  New  Haven,  if  I  choose  ?*' 

Rattleton  punched  Diamond  in  the  ribs,  grinning, 
but  said  nothing. 

"Eh?    Oh,  yes— of  course!"  said  the  professor,  has- 


Persuading  the  Professor.  277 

tily.  "But  you  vowing  to  own  the  horse  if  you  were 
able  to  save  her,  and  all  that.  It  looks  suspicious." 

"Well,  read  the  clippings,  and  you  will  understand 
the  situation  better. 

As  the  professor  was  reading,  Rattleton  touched 
Frank  on  the  arm,  saying: 

"See  that  girl  with  the  baby  over  there,  old  man. 
Rather  pretty,  eh  ?" 

"A  very  pretty  child,"  nodded  Frank.  "And  it 
seems  so  good-natured.  It  does  not  cry  at  all." 

"Hang  the  kid !"  returned  Rattleton.  "I  meant  the 
girl  that  has  charge  of  it.  Seems  to  be  a  nurse  girl, 
but  she  is  a  peach." 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

AN    ENCOUNTER. 

A  man  looked  into  the  waiting-room.  He  was  a 
young  man,  with  a  very  black  mustache  and  a  square 
jaw.  He  was  rather  loudly  dressed,  carried  a  cane, 
and  his  silk  hat  was  not  set  squarely  on  his  head. 

The  moment  this  young  man  saw  the  girl  with  the 
baby  he  came  in  and  walked  straight  toward  her.  There 
was  a  scowl  on  his  face. 

She  arose  in  some  agitation,  with  the  baby  in  her 
arms.  The  little  shaver  crowed  and  laughed. 

The  man  reached  the  side  of  the  girl  and  grasped 
her  arm,  while  he  bent  forward  and  said  something  to 
her  in  a  low,  hoarse  tone.  Both  seemed  to  betray 
alarm.  Apparently  he  was  urging  her  to  do  some- 
thing, and  she  was  persistently  refusing. 

Frank  was  watching  all  this.  His  blood  had  been 
aroused  a  bit  by  the  rude  manner  in  which  the  fellow 
had  grasped  the  girl's  arm.  . 

The  man  seemed  to  grow  more  and  more  angry. 
His  hoarse  voice  could  be  heard,  but  Frank  did  not 
catch  the  words. 


An  Encounter.  279 

At  last  the  fellow  caught  hold  of  the  girl  again,  and 
seemed  to  be  threatening  her  with  immediate  violence. 

That  was  more  than  Frank  could  endure.  He 
sprang  up  and  advanced  on  the  two,  quickly  confront- 
ing the  man. 

"Sir,"  he  said,  distinctly  and  sharply,  "you  seem  to 
be  annoying  this  young  lady." 

The  fellow  turned  on  Frank  with  a  growl. 

"What's  that  to  you  if  I  am  ?"  he  snarled. 

"I  do  not  propose  to  see  her  annoyed,"  declared  the 
boy,  coolly.  "Step  back,  and  let  her  alone." 

The  man's  anger  increased. 

"Take  a  tumble  to  yourself  and  git,  or  I  will  break 
your  head !"  he  fiercely  declared,  glaring  at  Frank. 

"You  are  at  liberty  to  try  that  trick,  sir ;  and  if  you 
do  not  leave  this  young  lady,  I  will  knock  you  down." 

The  man  was  fairly  staggered.  Such  boldness  from 
a  youth  was  a  stunner  for  him. 

"Knock  me  down!"  he  gasped.  "You?  Why,  I 
can  break  you  in  two,  you  insolent  dog!" 

"You  think  you  can.  It  is  a  way  with  ruffians  of 
your  caliber." 

"Ruffian!     That  settles  it!     I'll  have  to!" 

The  man  aimed  a  vicious  blow  at  Frank's  head  with 
the  cane. 

Like  a  flash  the  boy  dodged,  caught  the  cane,  twisted 


280  An  Encounter. 

it  from  the  man's  grasp,  took  hold  of  both  ends,  broke 
it  against  his  knee,  and  tossed  the  two  pieces  at  the 
stranger's  feet. 

The  man  gasped  with  astonishment,  and  then  his 
hand  shot  out  to  grasp  Frank's  shoulder. 

Frank  was  equally  swift  in  his  movements,  and  the 
hand  was  knocked  aside,  while  the  lad  sternly  cried : 

"If  you  try  to  repeat  that  trick  I  will  do  something 
besides  break  your  cane,  sir!" 

Jack  and  Harry  were  on  their  feet,  Jack  was  for  in- 
terfering, but  Harry  held  him  in  check,  saying : 

"Let  Frank  alone!  He  doesn't  need  any  of  our 
help,  and  he  will  not  like  it  if  we  put  our  noses  in." 

"But  that  fellow  is  a  man." 

"So  is  Frank  Merriwell.  He  may  be  a  boy  in  years, 
but  he  is  a  man  just  the  same.  You  know  that." 

Then  both  gave  their  attention  to  what  was  passing 
between  Frank  and  the  stranger,  who  was  now  furious. 

"You  meddling,  insolent  young  brat!"  grated  the 
man.  "You  have  broken  my  cane,  and  you  will — take 
that!" 

"That"  was  a  blow  sent  straight  at  Frank's  face, 
but  Frank  did  not  take  it.  He  ducked  to  the  right,  and 
gave  the  fellow  a  trip  and  a  push  that  sent  him  sprawl- 
ing on  the  floor. 


An  Encounter.  281 

The  gpirl  cried  out  and  hastened  away  with  the  child, 
plainly  greatly  alarmed  by  the  encounter. 

The  stranger  began  to  realize  that  it  was  no  ordinary 
youngster  who  had  so  boldly  faced  him  and  got  the 
best  of  the  affair  thus  far. 

Attracted  by  the  struggle,  some  men  hastened  up, 
while  the  women  in  the  room  moved  away  in  alarm. 

An  officer  came  bustling  to  the  spot,  ready  to  make 
arrests. 

"What  is  the  meaning  of  this?"  demanded  the  po- 
liceman. "Are  you  chaps  looking  for  a  night's  lodg- 
ing?" 

"Arrest  that  boy!"  cried  the  stranger — "arrest  him 
and  lock  him  up !  I  order  you  to  do  it !" 

Now,  no  policeman  likes  to  take  orders  from  any  one 
save  those  in  authority  over  him,  and  the  officer  was 
not  in  any  hurry  about  obeying. 

"Why  should  I  arrest  him  ?"  he  demanded,  regarding 
the  man  suspiciously.  "Why  shouldn't  I  arrest  you 
both?" 

"He  assaulted  me;  he  broke  my  cane!  He  threw 
me  down !"  excitedly  declared  the  man,  who  had  arisen 
to  his  feet  and  was  glaring  at  Frank. 

"Goodness!  what  is  all  this  about?"  gasped  Pro- 
fessor Scotch,  who  had  been  so  interested  reading  the 
clippings  that  he  had  heard  nothing  of  the  encounter. 


282  An  Encounter. 

"It's  Frank — and  he  is  in  some  kind  of  a  scrape !  Just 
like  him!  Never  saw  his  match  for  getting  into 
scrapes !" 

The  professor  hastened  to  join  the  group. 

"This  man  insulted  a  lady,  officer,  and  I  asked  him 
to  let  her  alone,"  said  Frank,  in  a  calm,  convincing 
manner.  "Then  he  struck  at  me  with  his  cane,  which  I 
snatched  from  his  hand  and  broke.  He  next  tried  to 
hit  me  with  his  fist,  but  I  dodged  the  blow,  and  tripped 
him  up.  I  did  not  strike  him  at  all." 

"It's  a  lie!"  cried  the  stranger,  who  looked  as  if  he 
longed  to  clutch  Frank  by  the  throat.  "This  boy  tried 
to  pick  my  pockets,  and  then  I  struck  at  him  with  my 
cane,  which  he  broke.  He  then  threw  me  down." 

The  officer  looked  doubtful. 

"Why,  you  ought  to  eat  the  youngster!"  he  ex- 
claimed, regarding  the  man  with  unconcealed  contempt. 

"I  order  you  to  arrest  him!"  snapped  the  man.  "If 
you  know  your  duty,  you  will  do  as  I  tell  you !" 

"Look  here?  I  don't  have  to  be  told  my  duty  by 
such  as  you!  If  you  are  not  careful,  I  will  lock  you 
up!" 

"That  is  right,"  said  a  portly  gentleman,  forcing  his 
way  into  the  knot  of  spectators.  "You  know  me." 

"Certainly,   certainly,  Judge  Hughes,"  bowed  the 


An  Encounter.  283 

policeman,  in  the  most  respectful  manner.  "Did  you 
see  what  happened  here?" 

"I  did,  and  this  young  man  has  told  the  truth  in  stat- 
ing that  the  person  there  was  annoying  a  girl,  or  young 
lady,  who  was  in  charge  of  a  child.  I  was  watching 
him  all  the  time.  It  occurred  just  as  the  young  man 
•has  stated.  He  simply  protected  the  girl  from  annoy- 
ance or  insult." 

"That  settles  it!"  exclaimed  the  policeman,  turning 
squarely  on  the  fellow  who  had  tried  to  get  him  to  ar- 
rest Frank. 

"You  get  out  of  this  now !  Get  a  move  on,  or  I  will 
run  you  in  immediately!" 

"All  right!"  hissed  the  stranger,  darting  a  vicious 
look  at  Merriwell.  "I  will  go,  but  you  have  not  fin- 
ished with  me,  you  young  pup!" 

"No  threats !"  growled  the  officer,  as  he  made  a  move 
as  if  to  grasp  the  man's  shoulder. 

The  fellow  lost  no  time  in  hurrying  out  of  the  wait- 
ing-room. 

The  crowd  quickly  dispersed,  some  hastening  to  catch 
a  train. 

"That  must  be  our  train,  Frank,"  said  Diamond. 
"We  do  not  wish  to  stop  in  Springfield  to-night." 

Frank  hastily  thanked  the  gentleman  who  had  been 


284  An  Encounter. 

addressed  by  the  officer  as  Judge  Hughes,  and  then 
turned  to  the  professor. 

"Come,"  he  said,  "we  must  go  back  on  that  train. 
What  do  you  say  ?" 

"Hum !  ha !  I  am  going  with  you,"  nodded  Scotch. 
"Where  is  my  traveling  bag?  We  will  get  aboard  at 
once." 

Harry  secured  the  professor's  old-fashioned  bag,  and 
the  three  lads  and  Scotch  hurried  out  and  entered  the 
train,  which  was  bound  south  on  its  way  to  New  York 
by  New  Haven. 

"You  are  lucky  that  you  are  not  lodged  in  a  station 
house  in  this  town  to-night,  young  man,"  grumbled 
Scotch,  with  an  attempt  at  severity,  as  Frank  sat  down 
by  his  side. 

The  back  of  a  seat  had  been  thrown  over,  so  Jack 
and  Harry  were  sitting  facing  them. 

"Oh,  I  don't  know  about  that/'  smiled  MerriweH. 
"I  couldn't  sit  still  and  see  the  girl  annoyed  by  that 
big  loafer  with  the  cane  and  silk  hat." 

"Oh,  no — of  course  not!  You  would  have  jumped 
right  in  if  you  had  known  it  meant  arrest  for  you !  I 
never  saw  your  match!" 

"How  could  I  help  it?  The  poor  girl  was  fright- 
ened and  ready  to  cry.  He  was  trying  to  force  her 
to  do  something,  the  ruffian!" 


An  Encounter.  285 

The  train  started. 

"There!"  exclaimed  the  professor,  "I  breathe  easier. 
I  didn't  know  but  we'd  all  be  arrested." 

"You  are  rather  timid,  professor/'  smiled  Harry. 

"Timid,  sir — timid !  You  do  not  know  me !  I  am 
courageous  as  a  lion.  You  should  have  seen  me  hunt- 
ing tigers  in  India  and  elephants  in  Ceylon.  I  aston- 
ished the  natives  by  my  daring,  young  man." 

"And  in  New  Orleans  he  made  one  of  the  most  fa- 
mous duelists  of  the  South  take  water,"  laughed  Frank. 

"The  gentleman  could  not  have  been  from  Ken- 
tucky," chuckled  Harry.  "He  would  have  died  rather 
than  take  anything  but  whiskey  straight." 

"Such  persiflage  is  uncalled  for,  sir!"  rumbled 
Scotch,  severely.  "I  am  very  glad  we  escaped  without 
further  trouble  with  that  ruffian,  for  such  encounters 
are  distasteful  to  me.  I  can  quell  a  lion  with  my  eye, 
but  I  do  not  care  to  deal  with  human  brutes  unless  I 
am  forced  into  it.  By  his  threat,  I  thought  it  possible 
he  might  attempt  to  injure  Frank  before  we  boarded 
the  train." 

"Oh,  that  was  all  gas,"  declared  Harry.  "He 
wouldn't  flirt  a  hie — I  mean  hurt  a  fly." 

"He  had  a  bad  eye,"  said  Diamond.  "I  believe  he 
is  an  ugly  customer." 

"But  we  are  not  likely  to  see  anything  more  of  him,"1 


286  An  Encounter. 

declared  Frank.  "I  wonder  who  the  girl  was,  and 
what  became  of  her.  He  knew  her,  that  was  plain, 
and  she  was  afraid  of  him.  Well,  we'll  never  see  either 
of  them  again." 

"That's  where  you  are  mistaken!"  exclaimed  Jack, 
suddenly.  "The  girl  with  the  baby  is  in  the  fourth 
seat  behind  you,  Frank!" 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE     DESERTED     BABY. 

Frank  turned  quickly,  and,  sure  enough,  there  was 
the  same  girl,  with  the  baby  in  her  arms. 

The  child  was  sleeping,  and  the  girl  was  holding  it 
gently. 

"You  are  right,  Jack,"  said  Frank,  turning  back. 
"That  is  the  same  baby." 

"Baby!"  softly  exploded  Harry.  "Babies  all  look 
alike,  but  I  know  it  is  the  same  girl." 

The  girl  seemed  so  absorbed  with  the  child  that  she 
did  not  notice  them  at  all. 

After  some  speculation  concerning  her  and  the  in- 
fant, Frank  asked  Scotch  what  he  thought  about  the 
clippings  he  had  read. 

"Hum!  ha!"  coughed  the  little  man.  "I  must  ac- 
knowledge, Frank,  that  I  am  rather  proud  of  you,  but 
some  time  you  will  be  killed  doing  these  things.  So 
you  know  the  young  lady?  and  you  are  determined  to 
buy  the  horse  that  enabled  you  to  save  her  ?" 

"That's  it,  professor." 

"Well,  the  man  who  owns  that  horse  is  beating  you. 
A  thousand  dollars!  It  is  ridiculous!" 


288  The  Deserted  Baby. 

"He  did  not  want  to  sell  the  animal  at  all,  but  I 
snapped  him  up  so  quickly  that  he  could  not  back  out." 

"Oh,  well,  I'll  have  to  see  the.  horse." 

"All  right,"  said  Frank,  grimly,  "and  you  will  have 
to  fork  over  the  money.  I  am  bound  to  have  the  ani- 
mal." 

The  conductor  came  through  the  car  looking  for 
tickets.  The  boys  were  provided,  but  Scotch  found  it 
necessary  to  purchase  a  rebate. 

"We  are  going  to  be  hungry  before  New  Haven  is 
reached,"  said  the  professor. 

"You  may,  but  the  rest  of  us  will  not,"  declared 
Frank.  "We  had  a  lunch  before  you  arrived  in 
Springfield." 

"That's  very  nice!"  observed  Scotch,  sarcastically. 
"Why  didn't  you  wait  for  me?" 

"Why,  you  dispatched  that  you  were  going  straight 
through  to  Boston.  I  didn't  suppose  you  would  come 
along  with  us." 

"Oh,  it  is  all  right !     I  won't  starve." 

Then  the  professor  fell  to  asking  Frank  questions 
about  his  life  at  Yale,  and  they  chatted  for  some  time. 

Of  a  sudden  Frank  started,  uttering  a  low  exclama- 
tion. 

"Great  Scott!"  he  muttered.  "There  is  that  fel- 
low!" 


The  Deserted  Baby.  289 

A  man  came  down  the  aisle  of  the  car — the  same 
man  with  whom  Frank  had  had  the  encounter  in  the 
station  at  Springfield.  He  pretended  he  did  not  see  the 
boy  as  he  passed. 

"That  is  the  same  fellow,  sure  as  fate!"  exclaimed 
Diamond,  softly. 

"Goodness  me!"  gurgled  the  professor,  looking 
ready  to  collapse.  "What  a  shock  to  my  nerves." 

"You  need  a  boda  and  sandy — I  mean  a  soda  and 
brandy,"  said  Harry. 

Frank  had  turned  around,  and  was  watching  the 
fellow,  who  had  stopped  at  the  seat  where  the  girl  was 
sitting.  She  shrank  back,  and  looked  up  at  him  in 
fear. 

"If  he  touches  her,  I'll  break  his  neck !"  came  fiercely 
from  Merriwell's  lips  as  he  partly  arose  from  his  seat. 

The  man  said  a  few  words  to  the  girl,  taking  care 
that  others  should  not  hear  him,  and  then  passed  on,, 
leaving  the  car. 

"By  Jove!"  said  Diamond.  "He  is  following  you, 
Frank." 

"That's  right!  that's  right!"  came  unsteadily  from 
Scotch.  "He  is  after  you!  We  had  better  give  him 
the  slip  by  getting  off  the  train  the  first  time  it  stops." 

"And  leave  him  to  persecute  that  girl  ?  Not  much  I 
1  am  not  the  one  he  is  following.  It  is  the  girl." 


290  The  Deserted  Baby 

Frank  got  up,  and  walked  back  to  the  seat  where  the 
girl  was  sitting.  He  lifted  his  hat,  and  spoke  po- 
litely. 

"I  trust  you  will  pardon  me,"  he  said,  "but  I  am  the 
one  who  tried  to  save  you  from  annoyance  at  the  sta- 
tion in  Springfield." 

"I  remember  you,"  said  the  girl,  and  her  voice  was 
not  quite  steady.  "I  thank  you,  sir." 

Then  she  turned  away,  as  if  she  did  not  care  to  say 
more. 

"I  observed  the  same  man  on  the  train  just  now,  and 
he  spoke  to  you,"  said  Merriwell.  "I  believe  he  is  fol- 
lowing you.  I  am  ready  to  protect  you  from  fur- 
ther annoyance." 

She  hesitated,  and  then  turned  toward  him  again. 

"You  are  very  kind,"  she  murmured ;  "but  I  do  not 
need  to  be  protected.  He  will  not  harm  me,  thank 
you." 

Again  she  turned  away. 

Frank  was  perplexed  and  somewhat  chagrined.  He 
returned  to  his  companions,  biting  his  lip  as  he  re- 
sumed his  seat. 

"Ha !  ha !"  chuckled  Rattleton.  "She  gave  you  the 
harble  mart — I  mean  the  marble  heart." 

"It  is  very  peculiar,"  declared  Frank.     "I  am  cer- 


The  Deserted  Baby.  291 

tain  she  stands  in  absolute  terror  of  that  fellow,  but 
she  says  she  does  not  need  protection." 

They  fell  to  chatting  again  as  the  train  rolled  along, 
and  the  girl  and  baby  were  forgotten  till  the  child  was 
heard  crying.  The  girl  soon  succeeded  in  quieting  it, 
however. 

The  cars  were  lighted  long  before  Hartford  was 
reached. 

At  Hartford  the  train  stopped. 

A  few  moments  afterward,  Frank  looked  around, 
and  then  said : 

"Hello,  the  girl  with  the  child  is  gone!  She  must 
have  left  the  train  here." 

"Well,  I  hope  that  man  left  with  her,"  muttered  the 
professor. 

Something  led  Frank  to  get  up  and  walk  back.  As 
he  was  passing  the  seat  that  had  been  occupied  by  the 
girl,  he  uttered  an  exclamation  of  astonishment. 

Neatly  wrapped  in  a  cloak,  there  lay  the  baby  on  the 
seat,  fast  asleep. 

"Hello!  hello!  what  is  the  meaning  of  this?"  ex- 
claimed Frank,  as  he  bent  over  the  child.  "Can  it  be 
that  she  intentionally  left  the  baby  here?" 

The  little  one  awoke,  looking  up  at  Frank  with  a 
pair  of  wondering  blue  eyes,  opened  its  mouth  and 
laughed  and  crowed. 


292  The  Deserted  Baby. 

In  another  moment  the  lad  had  the  infant  in  his 
arms. 

"You  cunning  little  rascal !"  he  cried.  "You  are  just 
the  sweetest  little  bunch  of  humanity  I  ever  saw!" 

The  baby  grasped  his  nose,  as  if  it  were  a  play- 
thing. 

"That's  right!"  chuckled  Frank.  "Take  it  right  off 
and  keep  it !  It  is  yours  if  you  want  it !" 

"Goo!  goo!  goo!"  gurgled  the  baby. 

"Now  I'd  like  to  know  who  told  you  anything  of  the 
sort,"  said  Merriwell,  shaking  his  head.  "I'm  no  goo- 
goo.  Stop  calling  me  names!  You  are  getting  fa- 
miliar on  short  acquaintance." 

"Gug-goo!  gug-goo!"  came  from  the  baby. 

"That  sounds  as  if  you  were  trying  to  say  you  love 
me.  Well,  I  love  you,  too,  you  little  shaver!  I  don't 
know  which  you  are,  but  I'll  bet  a  hundred  dollars  to  a 
cent  you'll  make  a  football  player  when  you  get  big 
enough.  That's  right !  Now  hit  me  in  the  other  eye, 
and  make  them  mates.  Why,  you're  a  pugilist !" 

Rattleton  came  rushing  down  the  aisle. 

"Hello!"  he  gasped,  his  eyes  staring.  "What  have 
you  found,  Merry?" 

"A  treasure,"  answered  Frank.  "Just  look  at  it! 
Isn't  it  a  beauty,  old  man  ?  See  it  kick !  See  it  laugh ! 


The  Deserted  Baby.  293 

Strong  and  so  good-natured !  Why,  it's  the  handsom- 
est baby  I  ever  saw!" 

"But  where's  the  girl?"  fluttered  Harry.  "What 
has  become  of  her,  Merry?" 

"I  haven't  the  least  idea  in  the  world." 

"Well,  this  is  a  pretty  scrape!  You're  in  a  fix! 
You've  got  a  haby  on  your  bands — I  mean  a  baby  on 
your  hands.  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  it?" 

"Do  with  it?     I  don't  know." 

"Well,  wake  up!  Wheegiz — no,  geewhiz!  You 
don't  want  to  be  taking  care  of  a  baby.  Let's  do  some- 
thing!" 

"What  can  we  do?" 

"Find  out  what  became  of  that  confounded  girl! 
Somebody  must  have  seen  her  get  off." 

By  this  time  Diamond  and  the  professor  came  down 
the  aisle,  and  Scotch  was  greatly  excited. 

"It's  a  shame — a  beastly  shame  to  leave  a  child  like 
that !"  he  roared.  "The  girl  may  have  stepped  off  the 
car  for  something,  but  she  had  no  right  to  leave  the 
baby." 

On  making  inquiries,  a  passenger  was  found  who 
was  sure  he  had  seen  the  girl  leave  the  train  imme- 
diately on  its  arrival  in  Hartford. 

"She  may  get  left,  and  then  what  will  happen  to  the 


294  The  Deserted  Baby. 

baby?"  said  Scotch.  "Wait  till  I  get  my  traveling 
bag.  I  don't  want  to  lose  that." 

"What  are  you  going  to  do?"  asked  Frank,  when 
the  professor  had  hurried  to  his  seat  and  returned  with 
the  bag. 

"Get  off— get  off  and  find  that  girl!"  declared  the 
little  man.  "I  am  going  to  reprimand  her  for  her  care- 
lessness. It  is  inexcusable — utterly  inexcusable." 

He  would  not  listen  to  anything  the  others  had  to 
say.  The  brakemen  were  heard  calling,  "All  aboard !" 
and  he  urged  the  boys  to  hurry  and  get  off. 

They  did  so,  and  the  train  rolled  out  of  the  station, 
leaving  them  standing  on  the  platform,  staring  about. 

"Well,  if  this  isn't  a  mitty  press — I  mean  a  pretty 
mess!"  cried  Harry,  in  disgust.  "The  train  is  gone, 
and  here  we  are !  We'll  not  get  into  New  Haven  to- 
night!" 

"There  are  later  trains/'  said  Diamond. 

"And  we  must  find  that  girl  for  all  of  anything 
else,"  declared  the  professor.  "She  was  left  here, 
too." 

"Left!"  snorted  Harry.  "Why,  it's  a  hundred  to 
one  she  skipped  and  deserted  the  baby  on  purpose!" 

"Eh!"  gasped  the  professor,  thunderstruck.  "I 
never  thought  of  that !  What  fools  we  are !" 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE   UNFORTUNATE   PROFESSOR. 

They  stared  at  each  other  in  silence  for  some  mo- 
ments. As  if  it  suddenly  realized  that  some  great 
catastrophe  had  befallen  it,  the  baby  began  to  cry. 

"Here,  take  my  traveling  bag !"  roared  the  professor, 
excitedly.  "Let  me  have  that  child!  Boys  don't 
know  how  to  handle  babies !  Give  it  to  me !" 

The  man's  fierce  manner,  his  hoarse  voice,  and  his 
bristling  red  whiskers  seemed  to  frighten  the  infant, 
and  make  it  cry  all  the  more. 

One  of  the  employees  about  the  station  came  along 
and  glared  at  Scotch.  Then  a  big  man  blustered  up 
and  down  past  the  group  a  few  times,  finally  whirling 
ponderously  on  the  dazed  boys  and  the  professor,  to 
sharply  cry : 

"That  baby  is  hungry!  It's  starving!  Why  don't 
you  take  it  to  its  mother,  man  ?  What  sort  of  a  father, 
are  you,  anyway?" 

"Father!"  gurgled  the  professor,  nearly  losing  his 
breath.  "This  is  too  much !  Somebody  else  take  the 
child  quick !" 


296          The  Unfortunate  Professor. 

"Oh,  no !"  said  Frank,  winking  at  the  others.  "Boys 
do  not  know  how  to  handle  babies." 

"Of  course  not,"  agreed  Harry.  "And  the  poor  lit- 
tle thing  is  much  better  off  with  its  papa." 

"It  would  be  better  off  with  its  mother!"  snapped 
the  stranger.  "Some  fathers  are  not  fit  to  have  chil- 
dren." 

"Oh,  merciful  goodness!"  groaned  Scotch.  "What 
a  scrape!  What  an  awful  scrape!" 

"What's  the  matter?"  asked  the  stranger.  "Has 
your  wife  run  away  and  left  you?  Some  women  are 
not  to  blame  for  leaving  their  husbands." 

He  said  this  in  the  most  pointed  manner  possible. 

"Sir!  sir!"  roared  Scotch,  his  beard  bristling  and 
his  face  getting  purple.  "You  are  meddling  with 
something  that  is  none  of  your  business !" 

"It  is  any  man's  business  to  see  that  a  helpless  child 
is  not  abused,"  returned  the  stranger,  glaring  at 
Scotch.  "I  should  say  your  wife  showed  her  sense  in 
leaving  you,  but  she  was  cruel  to  her  child  to  leave  it 
in  the  hands  of  such  a  man.  I'll  wager  something  that 
you  did  not  properly  provide  for  her,  and  you  look  to 
me  like  a  wife-beater." 

Frank  was  convulsed  with  silent  laughter,  and  Harry 
was  forced  to  hold  his  hand  over  his  mouth  to  keep 
back  an  outburst.  Jack  was  smiling  despite  himself. 


The  Unfortunate  Professor.          297 

"You  meddlesome  numskull!"  shouted  Scotch,  who 
was  beside  himself  with  wrath.  "I  am  not  a  married 
man!  You  wouldn't  dare  make  such  talk  to  me  if  I 
didn't  have  this  child  in  my  arms !  I'd — I'd " 

"What  would  you  do?" 

"I'd  have  you  arrested." 

"We'd  better  get  out  of  this,  Frank,"  said  Jack.  "A 
crowd  is  beginning  to  gather.  We  are  liable  to  get 
into  trouble." 

Merriwell  saw  this  was  right,  and  so  he  got  hold 
of  the  professor's  arm  and  dragged  him  away,  saying : 

"Come  on ;  we'll  try  to  find  its  mother." 

"That's  right  f  snorted  the  big  man — "that's  right ! 
and  I  hope  she'll  have  the  old  duffer  jugged,  as  he 
ought  to  be!" 

The  boys  got  the  professor  away,  and  they  went  in- 
side the  station,  where  a  "council"  was  held. 

"What  are  we  going  to  do  with  this  child?"  asked 
Harry,  soberly. 

"Why,  turn  it  over  to  the  authorities,  of  course," 
advised  Diamond. 

"I  presume  that  will  be  the  proper  way,"  agreed 
Frank. 

"Never!"  exploded  Scotch,  who  had  been  aroused 
till  he  was  in  an  unreasonable  mood.  "There  is  no 
telling  what  sort  of  treatment  the  poor  thing  would 


298          The  Unfortunate  Professor. 

receive.  Here,  Frank,  you  take  it  again,  and  see  if 
you  can  make  it  shut  up." 

Frank  again  took  the  child,  and  was  soon  able  to 
quiet  it  somewhat,  although  it  did  not  seem  fully  satis- 
fied. 

"If  we  do  not  do  something,  we  are  liable  to  all  get 
into  trouble,"  said  Jack,  observing  they  were  still 
watched  by  a  number  of  wondering  persons. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  asked  Harry,  helplessly. 

"Take  the  child  to  a  hotel,  where  we  can  care  for  it," 
said  the  professor.  "Then  we  will  find  that  girl.  Now" 
not  a  word.  I  know  what  I  am  about.  I  know  how 
children  are  treated  who  are  turned  over  to  the  au- 
thorities, and  I  know  what  a  lot  of  troublesome  ques- 
tions are  asked.  It  is  the  best  way.  Go  out  and  get 
a  cab,  Frank.  Do  as  I  tell  you,  or  you'll  never  get  hold 
of  that  thousand  dollars.  Be  quick,  too!" 

Frank  instantly  decided  that  it  would  be  a  good  plan 
to  get  away  from  the  station.  The  authorities  could 
be  informed  after  they  had  gone  to  a  hotel. 

Taking  Harry  with  him,  and  leaving  Jack  to  watch 
the  professor  and  care  for  the  child,  Frank  went  out. 

"This  is  a  beastly  joke!"  chuckled  Harry,  who 
seemed  to  enjoy  it.  "Think  of  Professor  Scotch  being 
taken  for  the  baby's  father." 


The  Unfortunate  Professor.          299 

"He'll  never  get  over  it !"  laughed  Frank.  "I'll  have 
a  horse  on  him  as  long  as  I  want  to  spring  it." 

"You'll  have  a  horse  on  him  all  right,"  declared  Rat- 
tleton,  "for  you  can  make  him  fork  over  the  thousand 
now." 

"That's  right.  Now  you  look  around  and  sec  if 
that  girl  is  about.  I  don't  imagine  you  will  find  her, 
but  it  won't  do  any  harm  to  look.  In  the  meantime, 
I'll  engage  a  cab." 

Harry  did  not  find  the  girl.  She  had  utterly  disap- 
peared. 

Frank  secured  a  cab,  and  then  returned  to  the  pro- 
fessor and  Jack.  The  child  was  crying  again,  and  the 
little  man  was  making  frantic  efforts  to  soothe  it.  The 
more  he  bobbed  about  and  made  up  faces  the  more  it 
cried. 

They  all  hustled  out  to  the  cab,  and,  as  they  got  in, 
the  professor  cried : 

"Take  us  to  the  nearest  hotel,  driver." 
"I  have  given  him  directions,"  said  Frank. 
"I  don't  care  if  you  have !"  roared  the  excited  little 
man.     "Do  as  I  say,  driver!     Take  us  to  the  nearest 

hotel!" 

Away  they  rattled,  and  they  were  soon  at  a  hotel, 
where  the  cabman  was  paid  and  dismissed. 


3oo          The  Unfortunate  Professor. 

"You  take  the  baby  in,"  said  Frank,  thrusting  it  on 
the  professor.  "It  will  look  better  if  you  have  it." 

"It  may  save  troublesome  questions,"  observed 
Harry. 

Scotch  grumbled,  but  he  could  not  drop  the  child, 
and  so  he  followed  the  lads  into  the  office  of  the  hotel. 

Frank  called  for  two  connecting  rooms,  and  the  clerk 
said  he  could  provide  them.  Then  they  registered, 
while  the  baby  again  began  to  squall. 

The  clerk  scowled  at  the  professor,  and  the  guests 
and  others  who  were  in  the  office  when  the  party  en- 
tered looked  on  with  wonder. 

"Here,  take  it — take  it  while  I  register!"  spluttered 
Scotch,  again  thrusting  the  child  on  Frank. 

"Are  you  with  these  young  gentlemen?"  asked  the 
clerk. 

"Yes,  sir,  I  am !"  shot  back  Scotch. 

"Your — ah — your  wife — if  she  comes,  you'll  want 
a  disconnected  room,." 

"My  wife!     Why,  I " 

"She  will  not  come  to-night,"  said  Frank,  quickly, 
realizing  the  professor  was  about  to  deny  that  he  had  a 
wife,  which  might  bring  about  some  unpleasant  in- 
quiries concerning  the  baby.  "It  is  all  right.  We  will 
go  right  up  on  the  elevator." 

"No  elevator,"  said  the  clerk.     "Six  dollars  in  ad- 


The  Unfortunate  Professor.          301 

vance  for  the  rooms.  A  matter  of  precautions,  as  you 
have  no  trunks." 

"Well,  what  sort  of  a  joint  is  this  ?"  muttered  Harry. 

Frank  hesitated.  He  thought  of  going  to  another 
hotel,  and  then  he  knew  that  would  mean  more  trouble, 
so  he  paid  for  the  rooms.  The  clerk  rang  a  bell,  and  a 
boy  took  the  professor's  traveling  bag. 

"This  way,  gemmans,  this  way,"  said  the  boy,  who 
was  black  as  the  ace  of  spades,  and  who  grinned  like  a 
hyena. 

They  followed  him  up  the  stairs— one,  two,  three, 
four  flights. 

"Murder!"  puffed  Scotch,  when  the  rooms  were 
finally  reached.  "This  is  a  fine  hotel !  Four  flights — 
no  elevator!" 

"Six  dollars  for  the  rooms!"  murmured  Frank,  as 
he  looked  around  at  the  wretched  accommodations. 

"Yeh  might  hab  got  on  de  top,  gemmans,"  said  the 
colored  boy.  "Dat's  up  anodder  flight.  You  kin 
change  if  yeh  wants  teh." 

"Wow!"  gasped  Harry.  "This  is  bad  enough! 
Let's  take  no  chances  by  changing!" 

"All  right,  gemmans.  If  yeh  wants  me,  jes'  ring. 
Bring  yeh  anything  yeh  wants.  Bar  closes  at  one 
o'clock." 


302          The  Unfortunate  Professor. 

"If  we  want  you  we'll  ring!"  roared  the  professor. 
"Get  out!" 

Frank  gave  the  boy  a  piece  of  money,  and  he  went 
out,  pausing  in  the  door  as  the  baby  gave  a  howl  to 
remark : 

"Lordy!  but  dat  chile's  got  a  voice  jes'  lek  his 
father's." 

Then  he  closed  the  door,  and  they  could  hear  him 
laughing  as  he  departed. 

"Taken  for  a  father  again!"  groaned  Scotch,  as  he 
dropped  on  a  chair.  "If  this  thing  continues,  I'm 
bound  to  commit  a  crime!" 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

LULLABY. 

To  Frank  and  Harry  the  whole  affair  was  a  huge 
joke.  Jack  looked  at  it  more  seriously,  while  the  pro- 
fessor was  suffering  tortures.  He  mopped  his  face 
with  his  handkerchief,  and  then  he  tore  open  his  travel- 
ing bag,  and  began  to  dig  out  its  contents  in  a  mad 
hurry. 

"I  must  have  something  to  steady  my  nerves!"  he 
roared.  "If  that  infernal  nigger  didn't  pack  my  bottle 
of  cordial  I'll  flay  him  when  I  return !" 

"I  should  say  he  had  packed  something,"  said  Harry, 
"judging  by  the  powerful  odor  that  comes  from  the 


"What's  this  ?"  howled  Scotch,  as  he  held  up  a  pair 
of  overalls  and  glared  at  them.  "Why,  these  are  what 
I  wear  when  I  dig  in  the  garden,  which  I  sometimes 
do  for  amusement.  What  are  these?"  he  shouted, 
ripping  out  a  pair  of  dirt-covered  boots.  "These  are 
the  boots  I  wear  when  I  dig  in  the  garden.  I  told  him 
to  pack  my  black  suit.  Here's  the  vest,  but  that's  all ! 
I'll  have  that  nigger's  life!  He  must  have  been  crazy! 
Never  knew  him  to  do  a  thing  like  that  before.  Here's 


304  Lullaby. 

my  bottle  of  cordial !  It's  smashed — it's  all  over  every- 
thing! That's  what  you  smell.  Wow!  Whoop! 
Nothing  to  steady  my  nerves!  I'll  go  crazy!" 

He  sat  on  the  floor  in  the  midst  of  a  mess  of  things 
he  had  torn  from  the  bag,  looking  the  picture  of  de- 
spair. 

It  was  a  ludicrous  spectacle,  and  both  Frank  and 
Harry  shouted  with  laughter. 

"Laugh!"  exploded  Scotch.  "Laugh,  you  thought- 
less young  villains!  There's  nothing  to  laugh  at! 
This  is  a  tragedy!" 

"Remember  the  bar  keeps  open  until  one  o'clock, 
professor,"  said  Frank. 

"That's  all  that  will  save  me  now!"  declared  the 
man.  "I  am  driven  to  it  as  a  last  resort.  I  am  against 
liquor — I  believe  in  putting  it  down." 

"That's  right,"  nodded  Frank,  "and  he  does." 

Scotch  rang  for  the  boy,  who  appeared  swiftly,  as  if 
he  had  been  awaiting  a  call. 

"Well,  sah,  what  de  gemmans  have?"  he  grinned. 

"I  want  something  to  steady  my  nerves,"  explained 
the  professor.  "They  are  completely  shattered." 

"Bring  up  the  bar,"  chuckled  Harry. 

Scotch  finally  ordered  gin,  and  the  boy  disappeared. 

Frank  had  quieted  the  baby  somewhat  by  giving  it 


Lullaby.  305 

a  silver  quarter  to  play  with.  The  baby  tried  to  swal- 
low the  quarter,  and  Frank  barely  prevented  it. 

"Why  didn't  you  let  it  go?"  asked  Harry.  "Then 
you  could  have  let  the  kid  out  with  a  circus." 

"How?" 

"Oh,  anyhow.  There  would  have  been  money  in 
the  little  fellow." 

"How  can  you  jest?"  groaned  the  professor.  "This 
is  a  sad  and  solemn  occasion." 

"That  is  jest  so,"  agreed  Frank.  "But  Harry  said 
something  to  me  at  dinner  to-day  that  made  me  feel 
even  sadder  than  I  do  at  this  minute.  I  found  a  hair 
in  some  honey  I  was  eating,  and  I  called  his  attention 
to  it.  'How  do  you  suppose  it  got  there  ?'  I  asked.  'It 
must  have  come  from  the  comb/  he  answered.  And  I 
fainted." 

The  baby  laughed. 

"You  little  rascal !"  cried  Frank.  "If  you  will  laugh 
at  a  thing  like  that  I  fear  for  your  future.  You  will  be 
utterly  without  feeling  when  you  grow  up  to  be  a 
man." 

"How  do  you  know  it  will  grow  up  to  be  a  man, 
Frank?"  asked  Harry. 

"No  girl  ever  would  have  laughed  at  a  chestnut  of 
that  sort.". 

The  boy  appeared  with  the  gin  for  the  professor,  who 


306  Lullaby. 

seized  the  glass  with  a  trembling  hand  and  swallowed 
its  contents  at  a  gulp.  Then  the  boy  was  paid,  and 
took  his  departure. 

The  baby  grew  restless  again.    It  fussed  and  cried. 

"Why  don't  you  keep  it  still,  Frank?"  impatiently 
demanded  Scotch. 

"Hold  your  breath  about  ten  minutes,  and  I  will." 

"Jeewhiz !"  chuckled  Harry.  "How  can  he  hold  his 
breath  ten  minutes?  It's  too  strong." 

"That  baby's  sick,"  declared  Jack.  "It  needs  a 
doctor.  Shall  I  go  for  one?" 

"No !  no !  no !"  shouted  the  professor.  "How  do  we 
know  anything  about  the  doctors  around  here?  The 
average  doctor  can't  cure  a  ham!" 

"Well,  what  is  to  be  done?"  asked  Diamond,  in 
perplexity. 

"The  baby  needs  amusement,"  asserted  the  profes- 
sor. "They  always  require  amusement.  Go  out  and 
buy  him  something." 

"What  shall  we  buy  him?" 

"Oh,  buy  him  a  brick  block,  and  bring  it  right  in 
here!"  roared  Scotch,  sarcastically.  "You  know  that's 
just  what  a  baby  wants  to  play  with!  Buy  him  a 
hearse!  That  will  be  something  funny!  Buy  him  a 
steam  yacht !  That  yacht  to  be  all  right !" 

And  then,  when  the  professor  realized  what  he  had 


Lullaby.  307 

said,  he  reeled  and  fell  against  the  wall.  The  pun 
had  been  quite  unintentional,  but  it  had  come  out  in 
his  hurry  to  say  something. 

Frank  and  Harry  were  convulsed  again.  The  situa- 
tion seemed  to  grow  more  and  more  ludicrous. 

The  baby  gave  a  wild  squall  that  served  to  cause 
the  professor  to  straighten  up  as  if  he  was  worked  by 
wires. 

"Go  out  and  get  that  child  something  to  play  with !" 
he  thundered.  "Buy  him  anything  you  see !  I'll  pay." 

"Come  on,  Harry,"  said  Jack.  "Let's  see  what  we 
can  find?" 

"Get  a  rattle,  a  doll — anything!"  directed  Scotch. 

They  had  got  outside  when  he  rushed  to  the  door, 
tore  it  open,  and  howled  after  them: 

"Don't  forget  to  buy  a  bottle  of  Mrs.  Dinslow's 
swindling  syrup." 

When  they  reached  the  office  the  clerk  looked  at 
them  rather  closely.  Feeling  full  of  mischief  Harry 
remarked  to  Jack,  speaking  loudly,  for  the  clerk  to 
hear: 

"I  don't  think  Professor  Scotch  makes  a  very  gentle 
father.  I  am  sure  that,  now  the  child  is  on  his  hands, 
he  would  like  to  get  rid  of  it.  We  must  watch  to  see 
that  he  does  not  dispose  of  it.  You  know  what  I  mean 
— you  know." 


308  Lullaby. 

Jack  was  somewhat  puzzled  by  Harry's  peculiar 
manner  and  words,  but  Rattleton  had  accomplished  his 
purpose.  The  suspicions  of  the  clerk  were  thoroughly 
aroused.  One  of  the  guests  who  had  seen  the  party 
enter  the  hotel  also  overheard  Harry's  remark.  When 
the  boys  went  out  he  rushed  up  to  the  desk  and  ex- 
citedly said : 

"I  knew  there  was  something  wrong  about  that  old 
fellow!  He  is  a  savage  old  pirate!  He  is  not  fit  to 
care  for  a  child!  The  mother  has  deserted  him,  and 
left  the  baby.  It's  ten  to  one  he  will  murder  it !  You 
do  not  want  anything  of  the  kind  to  happen  in  this 
house." 

"I'll  look  after  that  man  a  little,"  said  the  clerk.  "I 
may  have  to  warn  him  to  be  careful." 

Jack  and  Harry  returned  with  a  number  of  toys  and 
a  bottle  of  some  kind  of  soothing  syrup.  To  their  sur- 
prise they  found  the  baby  was  quiet.  Frank  was  hold- 
ing it  in  his  arms,  and  singing  lullaby  songs  to  it  in 
a  soft,  musical  voice.  He  had  tipped  a  chair  on  its 
back  legs,  and  was  rocking  forward  and  backward 
with  it  in  that  manner. 

"How  did  you  accomplish  it?"  asked  Jack,  won- 
deringly. 

Frank  smiled  mysteriously. 

"Oh,  I  looked  after  it  properly,"  he  said. 


Lullaby.  309 

"O-o-oh!"  exclaimed  both  Jack  and  Harry. 
Then  Frank  went  on  with  his  song: 

"Sweetly  slumber,  little  baby, 

Close  your  eyes; 
Angels  now  their  lamps  have  lighted 

In  the  skks. 
Safe  you  are  with  me,  my  baby, 

Through  the  night, 
Till  another  day  shall  bring  you 

Sunshine  bright" 

It  really  made  a  very  pretty  picture,  and  all  thought* 
of  joking  and  ridicule  were  banished  from  the  on-look- 
ing lads.  It  brought  to  mind  the  old  home  and  the 
mother  who  had  sung  lullaby  songs.  It  caused  them 
to  wonder  where  the  mother  of  the  poor  little  waif 
of  the  train  could  be,  and  if  she  were  longing  for  her 
baby  that  night.  Perhaps  its  mother  was  dead.  Per- 
chance it  had  never  heard  her  voice  singing  it  gently 
to  sleep.  Perhaps  never  again  would  it  feel  the  touch 
of  her  lips  sealing  its  drooping  eyelids  with  that  gen- 
tlest, sweetest  and  tenderest  of  all  things  in  the  worl  \ 
— a  mother's  kiss ! 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

MORE    TROUBLE. 

Professor  Scotch  was  in  the  adjoining  room,  the 
door  of  which  was  standing  open.  The  boys  went  in 
and  showed  him  what  they  had  purchased  for  the  baby. 

"That's  all  right,"  he  said,  gruffly;  "but  Frank's 
getting  along  first  rate  with  that  infant.  It's  remark- 
able what  things  that  boy  can  do!  He'll  handle  any- 
thing from  a  mad  horse  to  a  baby.  Hum!  ha!  Ha! 
hum!  Wonderful  boy — wonderful!" 

They  talked  in  low  tones  with  the  professor,  hearing 
Frank's  voice  sink  lower  and  lower,  till  he  finally 
ceased  to  sing. 

After  some  moments  Jack  stole  softly  to  the  door 
and  looked  into  the  other  room.  What  he  saw  caused 
him  to  catch  his  breath. 

The  baby  was  asleep  on  the  bed,  and  close  beside  the 
bed  Frank  Merriwell  was  kneeling,  his  head  bowed. 

Jack  Diamond  felt  his  heart  swell  in  his  bosom,  felt 
it  go  out  to  the  boy  by  the  bedside,  and  he  realized 
there  was  a  side  to  Merriwell's  nature  not  exposed 
to  general  view.  Jack  Diamond,  who  had  fancied 
he  hated  Frank  when  they  first  entered  college,  now 


More  Trouble.  311 

knew  that  he  loved  and  respected  Merriwell  more 
than  any  lad  he  had  ever  met.  He  would  fight  for 
him,  go  through  fire  and  water  for  him,  do  arything 
for  him. 

Jack  tiptoed  back  from  the  door. 

"What  is  Merry  doing?"  laughed  Harry.  "Is  he 
doing  the  right  thing  with  the  kid  ?" 

"Yes,  he  is  doing  the  right  thing,"  answered  Dia- 
mond, soberly. 

"Oh,  he's  a  wonder!"  declared  the  professor.  "But 
I  am  hungry.  I'm  going  down  and  get  something  to 
eat.  Stomach  requires  it.  Got  to  have  it,  you  know. 

"What's  that  your  stomach  requires,  professor?" 
asked  Frank,  entering  the  room,  a  smile  on  his  face. 
"Be  careful,  sir.  You  know  your  weakness." 

"Oh,  get  out !"  cried  Scotch,  jumping  up.  "You're 
always  fooling  and  joking!  I  don't  believe  you  ever 
had  a  serious  thought  in  your  life." 

He  got  his  hat,  being  cautioned  by  Frank  not  to 
awaken  the  sleeping  infant,  and  hurried  out. 

The  boys  sat  and  talked  over  the  situation  in  the 
room  adjoining  the  one  in  which  the  child  lay. 

"This  is  a  scrape!"  laughed  Frank.  "Just  think 
of  it!  We'll  not  be  on  hand  when  the  chapel  bell 
rings  in  the  morning." 


312  More  Trouble. 

"And  we  will  have  to  make  explanations,"  said  Jack. 
"It  is  going  to  be  rather  awkward." 

"It's  all  because  of  that  hattle-reded — I  mean  that 
rattle-headed  old  professor!"  cried  Harry.  "He  had 
to  drag  us  off  the  train,  and  then  he  wouldn't  let  us 
turn  the  baby  over  to  the  authorities.  What  in  the 
world  does  he  think  he  is  going  to  do  with  it?" 

"He'll  have  to  notify  the  authorities  in  the  morn- 
ing," said  Jack. 

"That's  right,"  nodded  Frank.  "He'll  be  glad  to  by 
that  time.  We'll  make  him  believe  he'll  have  to  take 
sole  charge  of  the  baby  if  he  does  not,  and  that  will 
bring  him  to  time." 

"This  is  a  most  remarkable  affair,"  came  soberly 
from  Jack.  "Do  you  suppose  that  girl  could  have  been 
the  baby's  mother?" 

"No.  She  was  rather  plainly  dressed,  although  her 
clothes  were  not  poor;  but  the  garments  of  the  baby 
are  of  the  very  finest  material.  The  baby's  parents 
must  be  wealthy.  The  girl  was  a  nurse." 

"But  why  she  skipped  out  and  abandoned  the  kid  is 
more  than  I  can  understand,"  said  Harry. 

"Don't  you  suppose  that  fellow  in  the  silk  hat,  who 
seemed  to  be  following  her,  had  something  to  do  with 
it?"  asked  Jack. 

Frank  nodded. 


More  Trouble.  313 

"I  am  inclined  to  think  so.  She  was  afraid  of  him ; 
but  where  she  was  taking  the  baby  and  why  she  de- 
serted it  is  more  than  we  know  at  present." 

"Well,  we'll  have  what  fun  we  can  out  of  it  while 
it  lasts,"  chuckled  Harry.  "The  professor  is  as  good 
as  a  circus." 

"I  hope  he  will  keep  away  from  the  bar,"  said  Frank. 
"Perhaps  one  of  us  should  have  gone  down  and 
watched  him." 

They  talked  about  half  an  hour  and  then  the  door 
burst  open,  and  Scotch  came  staggering  into  the  room. 
He  was  a  most  astonishing  spectacle.  There  was  blood 
on  his  nose,  his  collar  was  torn  open,  his  coat  was 
ripped  up  the  back,  and  his  hat  was  smashed. 

Scotch  dropped  into  a  chair,  gasping  for  breath. 

"What's  this?"  cried  Frank. 

"Wheegiz!"  gasped  Harry. 

"He's  hurt!"  exclaimed  Jack. 

"What  have  you  been  doing?"  demanded  Merriwell. 
"Why,  you  are  all  torn  to  pieces!" 

"You  ought  to  see  the  other  man !"  hoarsely  gurgled 
Scotch. 

"The  other  man?  Then  you  have  been  fighting? 
Why,  professor,  I  never  thought  this  of  you!" 

"I  never  thought  it  of  myself,"  acknowledged 
Scotch;  "but  I  couldn't  help  it.  He  followed  me  up, 


314  More  Trouble. 

and  kept  insulting  me.  I  was  taking  a  little  something 
at  the  bar  to  steady  my  nerves.  He  stood  right  up 
beside  me  and  advised  the  barkeeper  not  to  let  me  have 
anything.  Said  I  had  turned  my  wife  out  of  doors 
and  was  plotting  to  get  rid  of  my  child !  Said  I  had 
the  face  of  a  man  who  would  not  hesitate  at  any  crime ! 
Think  of  it !  Whoop !  Said  I  was  sure  to  be  hanged, 
and  he  would  like  to  be  present  when  the  event  oc- 
curred !  Wow !  Think  of  that,  too !  Called  me  a  lit- 
tle two-cent  parody  on  a  man!  Ye-e-eow!  Said  the 
sap  of  natural  decency  had  turned  to  bitter  gall  within 
me  and  poisoned  my  withered  soul  till  it  was  a  fiend 
that  would  frighten  the  worst  devil  in  the  infernal  re- 
gions !  Yar-r-rh !  Think  of  that !" 

Rattleton  nearly  had  a  fit,  and  Frank  quickly  closed 
the  door  of  the  next  room,  so  the  professor's  hoarse 
voice  might  not  awaken  the  sleeping  baby. 

"The  man  must  have  been  drunk,"  said  Diamond. 

"Oh,  my!  Oh,  my!"  gasped  Harry,  holding  onto 
his  sides.  "That  man  was  looking  for  trouble,  sure." 

"Well,  he  found  it !"  snarled  the  professor. 

"What  did  you  do?" 

"Do?  Why  I  shook  my  fist  right  at  him!  I  was 
awful  mad!" 

"Is  that  all  you  did?" 

"I  didn't  have  time  to  do  much  of  anything  else.    He 


More  Trouble.  315 

jumped  at  me,  and  then  we  had  it.  It  was  an  awful 
fight — simply  awful!" 

"Did  you  hit  him?" 

"I  don't  know;  I  don't  remember.  But  I  kno«j  I 
threw  him  down  on  the  floor  at  last,  and  I  got  under 
him  and  held  him  there.  I  wouldn't  let  him  get  up." 

Harry  slapped  Frank  on  the  back  in  an  ecstasy  of 
mirth, 

"Threw  him  down  and  got  under  him !"  gasped  Rat- 
tleton.  "Then  held  him  that  way,  and  wouldn't  let 
him  get  up !  Ha !  ha !  ha !  This  is  rich !" 

"Well,  I'd  like  to  know  what  you  see  about  it  that 
is  so  funny!"  thundered  the  professor.  "If  I  had  re- 
turned in  a  dying  condition  I  presume  you  boys  would 
have  laughed  like  jackasses!  And  it  all  conies  from 
that  infernal  baby !  That  baby  is  getting  me  into  more 
trouble  than  I  ever  struck  before  in  all  my  life!" 

"Then  we  had  better  notify  the  authorities,  and  let 
them  care  for  it,"  said  Jack. 

"No — I  say  no!"  shouted  the  professor.  "I  am 
going  to  look  after  that  infant  till  it  is  returned  to  its 
parents!  I'll  do  it  if  it  costs  me  my  life,  and  it  begins 
to  look  as  if  it  might,"  he  concluded,  with  a  dismal 
groan. 

"Well,  professor,  the  best  thing  we  can  all  do  now 
is  to  go  to  bed,"  said  Frank.  "Take  some  water  and 


316  More  Trouble. 

wash  the  blood  from  your  face,  and  then  we  will  turn 
in." 

"If  there  were  an  elevator  I'd  go  down  and  have 
it  out  with  that  man,"  grated  the  professor ;  "but  I  am 
too  tired  to  walk  up  those  stairs  again,  and  so  he  es- 
capes with  his  life.  I'd  held  him  down  till  he  said  he 
had  enough  if  some  fool  hadn't  come  and  pulled  him 
off." 

After  a  time  the  professor  was  induced  to  undress. 
He  looked  at  his  torn  clothes  in  horror  and  dismay. 

"What  am  I  going  to  do  ?"  he  groaned.  "That  con- 
founded nigger  did  not  pack  anything  but  the  vest  of 
my  other  suit!  I'll  be  a  pretty-looking  object." 

He  laid  his  clothes  over  the  back  of  a  chair  near  the 
door.  By  some  chance  Toots  had  packed  a  nightdress, 
and  this  the  professor  put  on. 

After  he  got  into  bed  he  talked  about  getting  up  and 
going  down  to  see  that  man  again,  but  Frank  knew 
well  enough  that  Scotch  would  be  liable  to  run  for  his 
life  if  he  accidentally  encountered  the  man. 

"Don't  you  think  this  joke  is  getting  rather  serious  ?" 
asked  Jack,  as  the  professor  began  to  snore. 

Frank  and  Harry  laughed  again. 

"It  certainly  is  the  greatest  racket  I  ever  heard  of," 
declared  Frank.  "Won't  we  have  a  yarn  for  the  fel- 
lows when  we  get  back  to  college!" 


More  Trouble.  317 

"Geewhiskers!"  chuckled  Harry.  "They'll  nearly 
laugh  dying — I  mean  die  laughing." 

Jack  did  not  seem  to  regard  the  matter  in  quite  the 
same  light  as  did  his  companions.  He  was  uneasy,  and 
he  felt  that  they  had  made  a  big  mistake  in  not  notify- 
ing the  authorities  for  all  of  the  professor. 

At  last  the  boys  decided  to  turn  in.  It  was  settled 
that  Frank  should  sleep  with  the  baby,  while  Jack  and 
Harry  would  manage  to  get  along  in  the  same  bed  with 
the  professor. 

"Hear  him  snore!"  exclaimed  Diamond.  "I'll  not 
sleep  a  wink." 

"We'll  get  a  clothespin  and  put  on  his  nose," 
grinned  Harry.  *>.' 

The  boys  went  to  bed,  and  Frank  finally  fell  asleep. 

It  was  not  very  long  after  that  that  the  baby  awoke 
them  all  by  crying  lustily.  In  vain  Frank  tried  to 
soothe  it.  It  seemed  desperate,  and  it  cried  louder  and 
louder.  All  the  boys  got  up,  and  finally  Scotch  came 
tearing  into  the  room  in  his  nightdress,  also  aroused 
by  the  infant's  cries. 

The  boys  had  partly  dressed,  and  all  were  wondering 
what  could  ail  the  infant  to  make  it  howl  so  loudly. 

"Amuse  it!  amuse  it!"  roared  Scotch.  "Where  are 
the  things  you  bought  for  it?  Here,  Frank,  it's  tired 


318  More  Trouble, 

of  you  at  last  Let  me  have  it!  There,  there,  there! 
Shut  up,  or  you'll  lose  your  wind  entirely!" 

Scotch  took  the  baby  from  Frank  and  bounced  it  up 
and  down,  but  it  continued  to  cry. 

"Amuse  it!  amuse  it!"  he  commanded  again. 
"Hurry  up,  before  it  raises  the  roof!" 

Harry  got  the  doll,  and  tried  to  attract  the  baby's 
attention,  but  the  infant  closed  its  eyes  and  howled  still 
louder,  if  such  a  thing  could  be. 

Frank  got  the  rattle  and,  in  great  excitement,  Jack 
went  for  the  soothing  syrup.  But  still  the  baby  howled. 

"For  goodness'  sake  do  something  quick  to  stop  his 
squalling,"  roared  the  professor,  great  beads  of  cold 
perspiration  starting  out  on  his  face. 

Then  came  a  heavy  rap  on  the  door. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE    INFURIATED    GUESTS. 

Frank  went  to  the  door  and  opened  it 

A  man  in  pajamas  was  outside. 

At  a  glance  Frank  saw  the  doors  of  other  rooms  were 
open,  and  he  caught  a  glimpse  of  one  or  two  heads 
thrust  out  at  the  openings. 

Evidently  the  baby  had  aroused  the  whole  floor  at 
least. 

"Why  don't  you  stop  that  baby's  noise?"  raspingly 
demanded  the  man  at  the  door.  "It  is  keeping  every- 
body in  the  hotel  awake !  It  is  a  nuisance !  If  it  is  not 
stopped  immediately  I  shall  go  down  to  the  office  and 
complain." 

Frank  was  hot. 

"Just  you  go  back  to  your  room  and  mind  your 
own  business,  or  you  may  be  helped  down  a  flight,"  he 
declared. 

"What's  that,  boy  ?"  cried  the  man,  in  astonishment. 
"Why,  you  are  a  stripling !  You  couldn't  harm  a  flea ! 
But  you  need  to  be  taught  a  lesson,  and  I  think  I  will 
teach  it  to  you." 

He  caught  hold  of  Frank,  and  tried  to  give  the  lad 


32O  The  Infuriated  Guests. 

a  shaking.  Then  he  met  with  one  of  the  greatest  sur- 
prises of  his  life. 

Merriwell  wrenched  out  of  the  man's  grasp,  dodged 
behind  him,  caught  him  by  the  neck  and  a  handy  portion 
of  his  pajamas,  and  ran  him  to  the  head  of  the  flight  of 
stairs. 

"How  is  this  for  a  stripling  who  can't  harm  a  flea  ?" 
inquired  Frank,  as  he  aided  the  man  downstairs  with 
his  foot 

Bump-ety-thump  -  bump  -  thump  -  chug !  —  the  man 
landed  at  the  foot  of  the  first  flight  of  stairs. 

Frank  coolly  strolled  back  to  the  room,  where  the 
baby  was  still  howling. 

The  professor  was  wildly  dancing  about,  with  the 
child  in  his  arms,  trying  to  quiet  it. 

"What's  the  trouble,  Frank?"  asked  Harry. 

"Oh,  nothing!"  was  the  nonchalant  reply.  "There 
was  a  man  outside  who  threatened  to  go  down  to  the 
office  and  complain  about  the  baby,  and  I  helped  him 
descend  the  first  flight." 

"What  can  we  do  to  quiet  the  child?"  asked  Jack, 
anxiously. 

"There  must  be  something  the  matter  with  it,"  said 
Harry. 

"Of  course  there's  something  the  matter  with  it!" 


The  Infuriated  Guests.  321 

shouted  the  professor.  "There's  a  pin  sticking  into  it 
somewhere!  Look  for  that  pin,  Frank — quick!" 

Frank  looked,  but  did  not  find  a  pin  that  was  trou- 
bling the  infant. 

"It  can't  be  that,"  he  declared.  "It  is  something 
else." 

"The  poor  little  thing  wants  its  mamma,"  said  Jack. 

"Well,  I  wish  its  mother  had  it!"  roared  Scotch, 
stopping  his  ears  with  his  fingers,  and  dancing  up  and 
down  in  excitement.  "Caesar's  ghost,  but  this  is 
awful!" 

Suddenly  Frank  clinched  his  fist  and  struck  himself 
fiercely  in  the  neck,  as  if  a  sudden  idea  had  occurred  to 
him. 

"What  is  it  ?"  asked  Jack  and  Harry,  in  unison. 

"I  have  it!" 

"You  have?" 

"Sure.  I  know  what  ails  the  baby!  We're  all 
fools!" 

"Well,  what  ails  the  baby?    Tell  us  quick!" 

"It's  hungry!" 

The  three  lads  and  the  professor  stared  at  each  other 
in  the  greatest  disgust,  while  the  child  still  cried. 

"I  should  say  we  are  fools!"  cried  Jack.  "Why, 
the  baby's  starving!  We  haven't  given  it  a  thing 
to  eat !" 


322  The  Infuriated  Guests. 

Bang !  Open  came  the  door,  which  Frank  had  failed 
to  lock.  Into  the  room  strode  the  man  in  pajamas. 
Behind  him  were  several  other  guests  of  the  hotel,  all 
partly  dressed,  and  all  armed  with  weapons  ranging 
from  a  whisk  broom  to  a  huge  revolver,  the  latter 
being  in  the  possession  of  a  little  man  who  looked  as 
if  he  was  in  mortal  terror  that  it  would  go  off.  Out- 
side the  door,  at  a  distance,  one  or  two  pale-faced, 
frightened-looking  women  could  be  seen. 

"Ha !"  cried  the  man  in  pajamas,  fiercely.  "We  have 
heard  you !" 

"Yes,  and  we  know  all  about  you,"  declared  a  man 
with  a  hatchet,  which  he  flourished  as  if  it  were  a 
tomahawk. 

"So  that  old  ruffian  is  trying  to  starve  the  child  to 
death!"  grumbled  a  huge,  red-faced  man,  pointing  an 
accusing  finger  at  the  professor. 

Scotch  dodged  behind  Jack,  trembling  and  gasping: 

"It — it's  the  ruffian  who  assaulted  me  down  at  the 
bar !  Don't  let  him  come  near  me !  I  shall  hurt  him  if 
he  does!" 

"We  are  here  to  see  that  the  infant  is  given  a  square 
deal,"  put  in  a  man  with  a  shovel,  which  he  held  ready 
for  action. 

"Jest  so!  jest  so!"  squeaked  the  man  with  the  re- 


The  Infuriated  Guesk.  323 

volver,  and  then  he  jumped  aside  and  held  the  weapon 
it  arm's  length,  as  if  it  had  tried  to  hit  him. 

"I  am  for  having  that  inhuman  monster  of  a  father 
arrested  and  jailed !"  came  hoarsely  from  the  red-faced 
man. 

"It  would  serve  him  right!"  agreed  all  the  others} 
and  they  glared  at  Scotch  as  if  they  longed  to  anni- 
hilate him. 

The  professor  was  weak  in  the  knees  and  forced  to 
cling  to  Jack  in  order  to  keep  from  wilting  on  the  spot. 

"Oh,  what  a  dreadful  scrape  we  are  in!"  he  dis- 
mally groaned. 

"All  on  account  of  keeping  the  infant,  when  we 
should  have  turned  it  over  to  the  authorities,"  said 
Diamond. 

"Professor,  you  must  give  them  a  full  explanation," 
declared  Harry. 

"If  I  could  get  to  the  bar  I  would  get  full  enough 
to  give  them  any  kind  of  an  explanation!"  groaned 
Scotch. 

"Gentlemen,"  said  Frank,  grimly,  "I  think  you  are 
intruding  in  a  most  unwarranted  manner." 

He  stepped  forward  as  he  spoke,  and  the  man  in 
pajamas  retreated,  crying: 

"Look  out  for  him!  He  is  a  violent  young  des- 
perado!" 


324  The  Infuriated  Guests. 

The  entire  party  flourished  their  weapons  threaten- 
ingly. In  doing  so  the  man  with  the  shovel  hit  the  lit- 
tle man  with  the  revolver  on  the  head,  staggering  him. 
The  little  man  dropped  the  revolver,  uttering  a  howl, 
and  the  baby  squalled  worse  than  ever. 

Fortunately  the  revolver  was  not  discharged,  but  the 
little  man  trembled  like  a  leaf  in  a  gale,  and  he  crept 
back  to  the  weapon,  stretching  out  his  hand  gingerly 
toward  it,  as  if  he  feared  it  would  bite  him. 

The  ludicrous  side  of  the  whole  affair  overcame 
Frank,  and  he  burst  into  a  merry  peal  of  laughter,  in 
which  Harry  joined. 

"Hear  them  laugh!"  rumbled  the  red-faced  man. 
"Did  you  ever  see  such  total  moral  depravity  in  young- 
sters of  their  years  ?" 

"Never!"  nodded  the  man  in  pajamas,  shaking  his 
head. 

"Never !"  agreed  the  man  with  the  shovel,  which  he 
flourished  again. 

"Never!"  echoed  the  man  with  the  whisk  broom, 
furiously  brushing  his  own  clothes. 

"Never!"  squeaked  the  man  with  the  revolver,  and 
then  he  jumped,  as  if  his  own  voice  had  startled  him. 

As  soon  as  Frank  could  stop  laughing  he  said : 


The  Infuriated  Guests.  325 

"Gentlemen,  you  have  made  a  mistake  in  coming  in 
here  like  this.  This  infant  is  all  right,  but  we  have  for- 
gotten to  give  it  its  milk  at  the  regular  time,  and  it  is 
crying  of  hunger.  That  is  all.  I  see  the  bar  is  not  yet 
closed,  and,  without  doubt,  I  can  get  some  warm  milk 
there.  If  you  will  be  good  enough  to  retire  I  will  go 
down  for  the  milk,  and  I  think  I'll  soon  be  able  to  quiet 
the  child." 

"He  talks  in  a  plausible  manner,"  hoarsely  admitted 
the  red-faced  man.  "Rather  an  honest-looking  boy, 
after  all." 

"You  don't  know  him!"  cried  the  man  in  pajamas. 

"Perhaps  we  had  better  get  out  and  give  him  a 
chance  to  get  the  milk  for  the  baby,"  said  the  man  with 
the  shovel.  "I  am  sure  he  will  do  it." 

"You  don't  know  him!"  repeated  the  man  in  pa- 
jamas. 

"I  move  we  give  him  a  trial,"  urged  the  man  with 
the  hatchet.  "It  can  do  no  harm." 

"I  tell  you  that  you  don't  know  him !"  persisted  the 
wearer  of  the  pajamas. 

"Come  on!  come  on!"  squealed  the  man  with  the 
revolver,  who  plainly  was  anxious  to  get  the  weapon 
out  of  his  hands.  "Let's  see  if  he  will  keep  his  word." 

"We  will,"  nodded  the  red-faced  man.     "We  will 


326  The  Infuriated  Guests. 

give  him  exactly  half  an  hour  to  quiet  that  child.  If  it 
is  not  quiet  at  the  expiration  of  that  time  we  will  call 
again.  Come  on." 

Then  he  marched  out  of  the  room,  and  the  others 
followed. 


CHAPTER  XXX, 

ARRESTED. 

"Thank  goodness !  our  lives  are  spared !"  gurgled  the 
professor,  sinking  limply  on  a  chair,  pale  and  breathing 
heavily. 

"Look  out  for  the  baby,  Harry,"  said  Frank.  "I 
will  be  back  with  that  milk  as  soon  as  possible." 

Then,  quickly  putting  on  his  shoes,  coat  and  hat,  he 
dashed  out  of  the  room  and  hurried  down  to  the  bar. 

Fortunately  there  was  plenty  of  milk  to  be  obtained. 
Frank  explained  that  it  was  required  for  a  baby,  and 
the  barkeeper  being  a  married  man  with  children  of  his 
own,  it  was  soon  properly  reduced  with  pure  water 
and  warmed. 

The  baby  was  still  crying  when  Frank  returned  with 
the  milk. 

"How  can  we  feed  it  ?"  asked  Jack,  helplessly.  "The 
baby  is  too  young  to  drink  it  from  a  glass." 

"That's  all  right,"  laughed  Frank.  "I  have  the  out- 
fit for  feeding  it  in  my  pocket.  I  found  it  when  I 
found  the  child  on  the  train/' 

Everything  was  soon  arranged,  and  it  was  astont- 


328  Arrested. 

ishing  how  quickly  the  little  fellow  stopped  crying 
when  he  got  a  taste  of  that  warm  milk. 

"Well,  this  has  been  a  wild  night  so  far,"  laughed 
Frank,  as  he  held  the  little  one  in  his  arms. 

"It  has  been  a  regular  tip-rarer — I  mean  a  rip- 
tearer!"  said  Harry. 

"It  has  been  much  too  wild  to  suit  me,"  admitted 
Jack. 

"My  hair  must  be  white  as  snow,"  groaned  the  pro- 
fessor. 

"It  is,"  laughed  Harry— "nit." 

Again  Frank  sung  lullabies  to  the  child,  and  when 
it  had  satisfied  its  hunger  it  fell  asleep. 

Then  they  all  went  to  bed  again.  Some  time  in  the 
night  Frank  got  up  and  warmed  some  more  milk  with 
the  aid  of  the  gas  jet,  and  the  baby  drank  again. 

The  guests  of  the  hotel  were  not  disturbed  again 
that  night  by  the  cries  of  the  infant. 

In  the  morning  the  boys  did  not  find  it  difficult  to 
persuade  the  professor  that  the  best  thing  possible  was 
to  deliver  the  baby  to  the  authorities  at  once. 

"All  right,"  grumbled  Scotch.  "It  is  against  my 
principles,  but  I  do  not  think  I  could  live  through  an- 
other night  like  the  one  just  past,  so  I  will  yield." 

They  decided  to  get  out  of  the  hotel  immediately. 

Scotch  concealed  his  torn  clothes  with  his  overcoat 


Arrested.  329 

As  Scotch  had  brought  the  child  in,  and  as  he  had 
seemed  to  be  its  father,  it  was  decided  that  he  had  bet- 
ter carry  it  out.  The  task  was  much  to  his  distaste, 
but  he  had  caused  them  to  care  for  the  baby,  and  he 
was  forced  to  yield. 

They  descended  the  stairs,  with  the  professor  in  ad- 
vance, carrying  the  infant  As  the  professor  reached 
the  ground  floor  a  man  rushed  out  of  the  office  crying : 

"Here  he  is  now!" 

It  was  the  young  man  with  whom  Frank  had  had 
the  encounter  in  Springfield,  and  he  caught  hold  of 
Scotch. 

This  man  was  followed  by  a  policeman,  who  also 
seized  Scotch,  flourishing  his  club,  and  exclaiming : 

"Arrh,  ye  kidnaping  spalpane!  We  hiv  yez  noow! 
It's  ter  phrison  'ye'll  go  fer  this  job,  me  mon !" 

In  his  consternation  and  terror  Scotch  nearly 
dropped  the  baby  to  the  floor.  He  turned  pale  and 
gasped  for  breath,  being  unable  to  utter  a  word. 

The  big  red-faced  man  with  whom  Scotch  had 
fought  came  out  of  the  office  and  glared  with  con- 
tempt and  scorn  at  the  professor. 

"I  knew  you  were  a  ruffian  or  a  crook  of  some  sort," 
declared  the  big  man,  in  a  self-satisfied  manner.  "I 
said  that  yeu  had  the  face  of  a  pirate.  I  hope  they 
will  send  you  up  for  twenty  years  for  this  job!" 


330  Arrested. 

"Oh,  Jupiter!  Jupiter!"  moaned  the  professor. 
"What  will  happen  next?  I'll  die  of  heart- failure  if 
there  is  anything  to  follow  this!" 

"Your  trial  and  sentence  will  follow  it,"  exultantly 
asserted  the  big  man.  "It  will  give  me  satisfaction  to 
serve  as  a  witness  against  you  and  your  gang  of  young 
crooks.  Why,  you  must  be  a  perfect  old  Fagin !  You 
must  be  teaching  those  boys  the  tricks  of  crime!  I'll 
bet  you  have  showed  them  how  to  pick  pockets  and 
crack  tills!  Oh,  you'll  spend  the  rest  of  your  life  be- 
hind the  bars !" 

"Frank!"  cried  the  professor,  wildly,  "come  down 
here  and  explain  to  these  lunatics  that  they  have  made 
a  most  outrageous  blunder !" 

Frank  was  hurrying  down  the  stairs,  seeing  that  the 
professor  was  in  trouble.  The  other  boys  followed 
closely. 

"Call  in  another  officer!"  cried  the  red-faced  man. 
"Don't  let  these  youngsters  get  away !  They  will  serve 
as  witnesses  against  this  old  reprobate !  And  I'll  wager 
something  that  queer-looking  bag  is  full  of  burglars' 
tools." 

In  vain  the  boys  tried  to  explain.  The  young  man 
with  the  silk  hat  seemed  to  take  a  malicious  satisfaction 
in  having  them  arrested,  and,  when  another  policeman 
appeared,  they  were  all  held  for  the  patrol  wagon. 


Arrested.  331 

"Av  wan  av  yez  troies  ter  escape  it's  his  head  he 
will  get  cracked  wid  a  chlub,"  declared  one  of  the 
policemen. 

"Well,  this  easily  beats  all  the  scrapes  I  ever  run 
up  against !"  admitted  Harry.  "Won't  the  fellows  dall 
fed — I  mean  fall  dead  when  they  hear  of  this!" 

"I  don't  believe  we'll  be  able  to  stay  in  Yale,"  said 
Jack,  ruefully.  "They  will  jolly  us  to  death." 

"It  certainly  is  a  horse  on  us,"  acknowledged  Frank. 
"And  it  all  comes  from  the  professor's  insisting  that 
we  keep  the  child  and  care  for  it  till  it  could  be  re- 
stored to  the  proper  parties.  His  kindness  of  heart 
has  placed  us  in  a  bad  box." 

"Arrh!  g'wan,  ye  shly  spalpanes!"  exclaimed  the 
policeman,  who  had  been  listening.  "Thot  sort  av  a 
yarrun  won't  go  at  all,  at  all.  Ye'll  not  git  out  av  th* 
schrape  by  thelling  thot." 

Then  the  patrol  wagon  came  rattling  up  to  the  front 
of  the  hotel,  and  the  party  of  prisoners  were  marched 
out  under  guard,  as  if  they  were  the  most  desperate 
ruffians,  and  carted  off  to  the  station  house,  where  they 
were  locked  up. 

"Well,  professor,"  said  Frank,  "here's  where  your 
kindness  in  caring  for  that  infant  instead  of  notifying 
the  police  has  landed  us." 

A  heartbreaking   groan   came   from   Scotch,   who 


332  Arrested. 

seemed  utterly  unnerved  and  broken  up  by  the  situa- 
tion. 

"My  poor  boys!"  he  said,  his  voice  breaking.  "It 
is  awful — awful !  And  I  am  the  cause  of  all  our  mis- 
ery. I  confess  it !  I'll  never  have  anything  to  do  with 
children  again  as  long  as  I  live.  A  bach  like  me  has 
no  business  to  have  anything  to  do  with  children. 
They  are  sure  to  get  him  into  trouble.  Oh,  mercy! 
mercy !" 

Never  had  Frank  seen  the  little  man  so  utterly 
wretched  and  downcast,  and  the  boy  rather  pitied 
Scotch.  But  Merriwell  saw  his  opportunity,  and  it 
was  too  good  to  be  lost. 

"If  you  had  sent  me  the  thousand  dollars,  as  I  re- 
quested, this  would  not  have  occurred/'  he  declared. 

"True,  true,"  nodded  the  professor,  who  had  taken 
a  seat  on  a  bench. 

"We  would  not  have  been  in  Springfield,  and  you 
would  have  gone  right  through  to  Boston,  if  you  were 
going  to  Boston  at  all;  but  I  do  not  believe  you  had 
an  idea  of  going  to  Boston.  Tell  me  the  truth,  profes- 
sor, were  you  really  on  your  way  to  Boston?" 

"Well,  I  was  traveling  toward  Boston  till  I  stopped 
at  Springfield.  Yes,  yes — that  is  right." 

"Oh,  yes,  that  is  right ;  but  did  you  intend  to  go  be- 
yond Springfield?  Own  up — confess  that  you  meant 


Arrested.  333 

to  go  to  New  Haven  all  the  time.  You  did  not  believe 
I  wanted  to  pay  a  thousand  dollars  for  a  horse.  You 
thought  I  must  be  in  some  serious  scrape,  and  you  were 
going  to  investigate.  You  did  not  trust  me — thought 
I  had  lied  to  you.  Don't  deny  it !" 

Scotch  groaned  again,  but  said  not  a  word. 

"Now  you  can  see  what  your  unjust  suspicions  did 
for  us  all,"  Frank  went  on,  severely,  for  he  was  not 
pleased  to  know  that  Scotch  could  think  he  had  told  a 
deliberate  lie. 

"Yes,  yes!"  came  huskily  from  the  little  man. 

"We  are  under  arrest,  charged  with  the  crime  of 
kidnaping.  We  are  locked  up  in  this  miserable  cell. 
We  were  carted  through  the  streets  of  Hartford  in  a 
patrol  wagon,  as  if  we  were  criminals  of  the  worst  sort. 
You  are  regarded  as  a  second  Fagin.  It  is  believed  that 
you  are  an  old  villain  who  is  teaching  us  the  ways  of 
the  criminal.  That  must  be  very  pleasant  to  you !" 

"Oh,  merciful  goodness!    It  is  killing  me!" 

"Next  time,  professor,  I  hope  you  will  trust  and 
believe  me." 

"I  will — I  promise  that!" 

"And  when  we  get  out  of  this  scrape,  if  we  are 
thus  fortunate,  I  hope  you  will  lose  no  time  in  forking 
over  the  money  I  want." 

"You  shall  have  it — you  shall  have  it!" 


334  Arrested. 

"But  we  are  not  out  of  this  scrape  by  a  long  dis- 
tance," said  Jack.  "We  must  produce  witnesses  to 
vouch  to  our  good  character." 

"I  am  afraid  we  may  find  it  difficult  to  produce  wit- 
nesses in  Hartford,"  said  Frank.  "We  are  not  known 
here." 

"But  we  must  send  to  New  Haven." 

"Wow !"  cried  Harry.  "Think  of  that !  I'd  rather 
go  to  jail !" 

Frank  shook  his  head. 

"I  hardly  feel  like  sending  to  New  Haven,"  he  said, 
"but  we  may  have  to  do  it  to  save  ourselves." 

"Oh,  if  we  could  keep  this  matter  quiet!"  fluttered 
Harry.  "We  must  keep  it  quiet!  We'll  never  hear 
the  last  of  it  if  it  colls  into  gettage — I  mean  gets  into 
college." 

Diamond  flushed.  He  was  rather  proud  and  high 
spirited,  and  what  they  had  passed  through  had  cut  him 
to  the  bone.  The  thought  of  letting  the  fellows  at 
Yale  know  what  had  happened  was  torture  to  him. 

"Rattleton  is  right,"  he  declared.  "We  must  do 
anything  to  keep  this  wretched  matter  from  reaching 
Yale.  It  would  ruin  our  college  careers !  We  would 
be  guyed  so  that  we'd  have  to  get  out." 

"And  I  am  the  cause  of  it  all!"  moaned  the  miser- 
able professor. 


Arrested.  335 

"Well,  what  can  we  do?"  asked  Frank.  "Somebody 
must  appear  for  us,  or  we'll  be  jugged,  and  then  the 
matter  is  sure  to  come  out." 

"Professor,  you  suggest  something,"  urged  Rat- 
tleton. 

"I  can't !"  helplessly  urged  Scotch.     "I  can't  think !" 

"You  must  send  for  somebody  who  will  appear  and 
vouch  for  your  good  character,  professor,"  declared 
Frank,  sharply. 

He  grasped  Scotch's  shoulder  and  gave  the  little 
man  a  sharp  shake. 

"Rouse  up,  now,  and  send  for  somebody,"  he  urged. 

"I  don't  know  of  anybody  I  can  send  for  this  side  of 
Bloomfield,"  muttered  the  professor. 

"Then  you  will  have  to  send  to  Bloomfield.  I  am 
known  there,  too.  It  is  pretty  tough  to  have  the  people 
at  one's  home  know  a  fellow  has  been  arrested,  but  I 
don't  see  that  we  can  do  anything  else." 

"We  may  all  have  to  send  home,"  said  Harry. 

"Never!"  cried  Diamond.  "I  wouldn't  have  my 
parents  know  of  this  for  any  sum  of  money!" 

"You  are  louder  than  Prucifer — I  mean  you  are 
prouder  than  Lucifer !"  said  Harry. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

IN    COURT. 

Frank  finally  got  Scotch  aroused,  and  the  little  man 
fell  to  rattling  at  the  grating  in  the  door  of  the  cell. 

In  a  few  moments  a  thick-necked,  stupid-looking 
guard  appeared. 

"Wotcher  want?"  he  raspingly  demanded,  glaring  at 
Scotch.  "Wotcher  makin'  all  this  racket  fer?" 

"I — I  wish  to  send  some  messages  to  my  friends," 
said  the  professor,  timidly. 

"Wot's  dat?     Wotcher  wanter  do  dat  fer?" 

"So  they  will  vouch  for  my  standing  and  good  char- 
acter." 

The  guard  laughed  hoarsely. 

"That's  a  joke !"  he  said.  "You  ain't  got  no  stand- 
ing nor  good  character.  You  can't  play  smooth  with 
me,  I've  got  it  straight  that  you're  der  worst  one  in 
der  biz." 

"The  biz?" 

"Yes,  der  business." 

"What  business?" 

"Kidnapin'  children.     You've  done  time  fer  that  be- 


In  Court.  337 

fore,  and  you'll  go  up  again — you  an'  yer  gang  of  slick- 
lookin'  young  roosters." 

"You're  mistaken!"  roared  the  professor,  getting 
excited.  "This  is  an  outrage !  I  am  a  respectable  and 
honest  citizen,  who  was  never  before  arrested  in  all  his 
life,  as  I  can  prove!  Somebody  shall  suffer  for  this! 
I  won't  stand  it!  Somebody  shall  pay  dearly  for  this 
piece  of  business !  I'm  no  kidnaper !" 

"G'wan,  yer  red-whiskered  old  crook!"  growled 
the  guard,  glaring  at  Scotch.  "You  can't  come  der 
indignation  racket  on  me!  I'm  onter  your  curves!'* 

"You  are  a  shallow-brained,  empty-pated  apology 
for  a  man!"  thundered  Scotch,  who  was  now  fairly 
aroused.  "You  don't  know  your  business.  If  I " 

"What's  that?  what's  that?  I  have  a  mind  ter 
come  in  there  an'  give  yer  a  swift  push  in  ther  neck!" 

"If  you  come  in  you  will  go  out  in  pieces !"  declared 
Scotch,  hotly.  "Don't  you  try  it!" 

"Good  gracious!"  gasped  Harry,  laughing;  "would 
he  fight  if  the  guard  came  in?" 

"Not  much !"  smiled  Frank.  "He'd  try  to  get  un- 
der something  where  he  would  be  safe." 

"I'll  see  what  I  can  do  for  you  when  I  get  out," 
promised  Scotch,  glaring  back  at  the  guard.  "A 
creature  like  you  is  not  fit  to  hold  the  position  you 
have!" 


338  In  Court. 

"A  creature  like  you  is  fit  ter  hold  der  position  you 
have — dat's  behind  bars,"  declared  the  guard. 

"Oh,  keep  it  up!"  roared  the  little  man.,  "You 
know  you  are  safe  out  there!  But  this  abuse  of  pris- 
oners shall  be  reported !" 

"What  you  say  about  it  won't  cut  much  ice." 

"Oh,  you'll  see— you'll  see!" 

"Dat's  all  right.  Yer  want  to  simmer  down,  and 
keep  quiet.  If  I  hear  any  more  racket  from  this  cell 
I'll  come  back  here  and  quiet  yer.  Understand?" 

"Go  on!  Get  away!"  shot  back  the  professor. 
"You  are  offensive  to  my  sight!  You'll  be  sorry  for 
this  later !" 

The  guard  uttered  some  decidedly  strong  language, 
and  then  he  departed. 

"Outrage  upon  outrage!"  shouted  Scotch.  "Did 
you  ever  see  anything  like  it  ?  It  is  awful — simply  ap- 
palling! But  our  inning  will  come  soon,  and  then 
we'll  get  back  at  somebody." 

"I  hope  you  are  right,"  said  Frank ;  "but  it  does  not 
look  as  if  we  were  to  be  given  half  a  show." 

"The  baby !"  exclaimed  Jack,  suddenly.  "What  be- 
came of  the  baby?" 

"That's  so!"  cried  Harry.  "What  did  becomf  of 
the  baby?" 


In  Court.  339 

"Professor,"  called  Frank,  "what  did  you  do  with 
the  baby?" 

"I  didn't  do  anything  with  it." 

"You  must  have  done  something  with  it,  for  you 
had  it  last.  It  is  not  here  with  us." 

"The  fellow  with  the  silk  hat  took  charge  of  it." 

"That  young  ruffian  ?  It  is  an  outrage !  The  mys- 
tery of  that  baby  is  still  a  mystery  to  us." 

"And  the  girl — what  became  of  her?  There's  an- 
other mystery." 

"The  fellow  with  the  silk  hat  must  have  traced  us 
from  the  train  to  the  hotel.  He  had  located  us  there 
shortly  before  we  started  to  leave." 

"And  now  he  has  located  us  here,"  groaned  Scotch. 

"And  we  are  not  even  allowed  to  communicate  with 
our  friends!" 

For  a  long  time  they  talked  the  matter  over.  At  last 
they  began  to  get  hungry,  and  they  became  more  and 
more  so  as  the  morning  advanced. 

Frank  rattled  on  the  grating  and  again  brought  the 
guard  around.  He  informed  them  that  they  could 
have  something  to  eat  by  paying  for  it.  Frank  ordered 
breakfast  for  them  all,  and  then  had  to  pay  about  four 
times  what  it  was  worth. 

The  food  was  brought  in,  and  when  they  had  eaten, 
they  felt  somewhat  better,  with  the  exception  of  Scotch, 


340  In  Court. 

who  was  greatly  depressed,  as  he  declared  over  and 
over  that  it  was  the  first  time  he  had  ever  been  ar- 
rested, and  he  could  not  help  feeling  the  disgrace  of  it. 

At  exactly  a  quarter  to  ten  in  the  forenoon  guards 
appeared  and  unlocked  the  door  of  their  cell.  Then 
they  were  escorted  to  a  room  where  they  knew  their 
examination  was  to  take  place.  They  were  placed  be- 
hind a  rail  along  with  a  few  other  prisoners,  all  of 
whom  were  common  drunkards.  An  unusually  large 
number  of  bluecoats  were  on  hand  to  guard  the  prison- 
ers, and  there  were  several  newspaper  reporters  in  the 
room,  as  the  report  had  gone  out  that  a  most  desperate 
gang  had  been  captured. 

The  place  was  well  filled  with  spectators,  who  stared 
with  awe  at  the  professor  and  the  boys,  who  were  be- 
lieved to  be  the  desperate  characters.  The  spectators 
called  each  other's  attention  to  the  party,  pointing 
them  out,  and  making  audible  remarks. 

"Those  red  whiskers  are  worn  to  disguise  his  face/' 
said  a  voice,  and  all  knew  Scotch  was  the  person  spoken 
of,  as  there  was  no  other  person  with  red  whiskers  in 
the  room. 

"He  grew  them  after  he  was  released  from  Sing 
Sing  the  last  time,"  declared  another.  "His  picture  is 
No.  2,309  in  the  Rogues'  Gallery." 


In  Court.  341 

Scotch  grated  his  teeth  and  glared  in  a  manner  that 
made  him  look  piratical  indeed. 

"Look  at  him  now!"  urged  a  third.  "Isn't  that 
the  face  of  a  beast  who  would  delight  in  any  sort  of 
crime!" 

"Oh,  there  is  no  question  about  his  utter  depravity! 
And  he  delights  to  get  hold  of  young  boys  and  teach 
them  to  become  pickpockets,  burglars,  kidnapers  and 
bank  robbers." 

Scotch  writhed  in  his  seat,  suffering  tortures  un- 
mentionable; but  it  was  utterly  impossible  for  Frank 
and  Harry  to  keep  from  smiling,  for  all  of  their  situa- 
tion. 

"They  say  those  young  fellows  with  him  are  some  of 
his  most  expert  pupils,"  observed  a  man  with  a  soiled 
shirt  and  a  dirty  paper  collar,  not  to  mention  an  air  of 
knowing  it  all  that  was  simply  oppressive. 

"Oh,  I  could  strangle  some  of  those  gawking  fools !" 
rumbled  the  professor,  in  Frank's  ear. 

"Did  you  hear  that?"  hoarsely  whispered  a  little 
man  among  the  spectators.  "He  would  not  hesitate 
to  cut  a  throat!" 

"Think  of  a  little  innocent  baby  being  all  night  in  the 
clutches  of  such  an  inhuman  brute !"  sniffed  a  tall,  thin 
man  whose  left  eye  was  out  of  plumb.  "It's  a  wonder 
the  infant  escaped  with  its  life !" 


342  In  Court. 

"That's  so,"  nodded  a  countrified-appearing  old  fel- 
low, who  had  tobacco  juice  on  his  whiskers.  "I  hope 
they'll  put  him  inter  jail  for  the  rest  of  his  natteral 
life!" 

"It  is  a  shame  for  such  a  wretch  to  run  at  large  and 
contaminate  young  men  and  boys,"  said  the  man  with 
the  soiled  paper  collar.  "Them  fellows  with  him  don't 
look  so  awful  bad."  , 

"Not  yet,"  admitted  the  tall  man,  rolling  his  crooked 
eye  about  in  what  seemed  a  painful  effort  to  cause  it  to 
cover  all  three  of  the  lads  at  once.  "But  they're  com- 
ing— anybody  can  see  that.  They've  got  the  lines  of 
villainy  traced  on  their  faces,  and  each  year  will  sink 
those  lines  deeper  and  deeper." 

"I  think  they're  more  depraved  than  they  look,"  ob- 
served the  little  man.  "See  how  they  laugh!  They 
don't  seem  to  mind  it  at  all." 

"I'd  like  to  go  out  there  and  punch  the  heads  of 
those  confounded  fools!"  grated  Jack,  who  was  en- 
raged. 

"Oh,  but  this  joke  is  too  good  to  keep!"  gasped 
Harry,  punching  Frank.  "It  is  the  richest  thing  I 
ever  heard  of  in  my  life!" 

"I  never  ran  up  against  anything  just  like  this  be- 
fore," smiled  Frank.  "It  is  rather  rich,  but  I'd  enjoy 


In  Court.  343 

it  a  great  deal  better  if  I  knew  just  how  it  was  going 
to  end." 

"Look  over  in  the  witness  box,"  said  Harry. 
"There's  the  man  who  wore  the  pajamas.  He's  here 
to  get  even  for  being  kicked  downstairs." 

"And  there's  the  red-faced  fellow  with  whom  the 
professor  had  the  fight  down  at  the  bar." 

"He  looks  satisfied  and  triumphant,  as  if  he  felt 
that  he  made  no  mistake  in  sizing  the  poor  professor 
up  as  a  villain." 

"Boys,"  said  Scotch,  seeming  between  a  furious  out- 
burst of  rage  and  a  flood  of  tears,  "have  I  got  the  face 
of  such  an  infernal  old  pirate?  Would  any  one  pick 
me  out  at  first  glance  to  be  a  man  who  could  take  de- 
light in  torturing  children  and  teaching  boys  to  be- 
come criminals  ?  If  it  is  true  that  I  look  as  wicked  as 
everybody  seems  to  think,  I'm  going  to  wear  a  veil 
hereafter!" 

Poor  Scotch!  Never  before  in  his  life  had  he 
passed  through  such  humiliation  and  torture! 

The  reporters  tried  to  get  at  the  prisoners  to  talk 
with  them,  but  they  were  kept  back  by  the  police. 

At  last  the  judge  appeared.  He  was  a  stern-looking 
man,  with  a  straight-cut,  thin-lipped  mouth  that  seemed 
to  say  there  was  little  of  the  milk  of  human  kindness 
left  in  his  heart. 


344  1°  Court. 

Court  was  declared  open. 

Then  the  young  man  with  whom  Frank  had  had  the 
encounter  in  Springfield  came  in,  bringing  the  baby. 

Barely  had  he  taken  a  seat  when  a  policeman  escorted 
into  the  room  the  girl  who  had  left  the  baby  on  the 
train.  She  was  in  tears,  and  her  face  was  very  pale. 

As  the  girl  was  led  toward  the  prisoner's  box  she 
saw  the  young  man  and  the  baby.  She  stopped  in  her 
tracks,  as  if  thunderstruck,  and  then  gave  a  shriek  of 
joy.  The  next  instant  she  rushed  forward  and 
snatched  the  infant  from  the  young  man's  arms,  clasp- 
ing it  to  her  bosom  and  kissing  it  wildly. 

"That  doesn't  look  as  if  she  intentionally  deserted  the 
baby,"  said  Frank,  who  was  rather  puzzled. 

"I  should  say  not!"  exclaimed  Jack.  "She  is  over- 
come with  joy  to  find  it,  anyway." 

"Look  at  the  fellow  with  the  silk  hat  laugh !"  gurgled 
Harry.  "He  seems  as  satisfied  as  anybody  can." 

Then  everybody  saw  the  girl  turn  to  the  young  man, 
and  heard  her  excitedly  say: 

"Oh,  John,  John!  This  is  too  good  to  be  true! 
Poor,  dear  little  Horace!  I  was  afraid  I'd  never  see 
him  again!" 

"I  told  you  last  night  that  I  would  find  him,  Emma," 
said  John,  somewhat  vauntingly.  "I  have  kept  my 
word." 


In  Court.  345 

"You  have,  but  I  don't  know  how  to  repay  you." 

"I  know  how  you  can,"  declared  the  young  man, 
regardless  that  others  were  watching  and  listening.  "I 
have  been  trying  to  get  you  to  marry  me  for  a  year, 
but  you  would  not  have  me,  and  you  caused  the  pro- 
fessor to  discharge  me,  so  I  would  not  bother  you  any 
more.  You  even  threatened  to  have  me  arrested;  but 
I  did  not  give  you  up.  Now  I  have  found  the  baby 
and  restored  him  to  you.  If  you  want  to  repay  me, 
marry  me,  Emma." 

The  girl  blushed  and  hung  her  head,  the  baby 
laughed  and  chuckled,  and  the  spectators,  witnesses, 
prisoners  and  judge  breathlessly  awaited  the  girl's  an- 
swer. 

Finally  she  looked  up  and  said : 

"Well,  John,  I  haven't  been  able  to  get  rid  of  you, 
and  I  suppose  I'll  have  to  marry  you." 

There  was  a  deep  breath  of  satisfaction  and  relief 
in  the  courtroom. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

OUT    OF    TROUBLE. 

"Order  in  the  court !" 

The  spectators  and  all  others  in  the  courtroom,  with 
the  possible  exception  of  John,  Emma  and  the  baby, 
gave  the  judge  their  attention. 

The  common  drunkards  were  called  first,  and  the 
judge  disposed  of  them  one  after  the  other,  in  short  or- 
der. 

At  last  the  prisoners'  box  was  cleared  of  all  except 
our  friends. 

The  names  of  each  one  had  been  taken  when  they 
were  lodged  in  the  cell,  and  the  judge  finally  said : 

"Horace  Scotch,  stand  up." 

The  professor  arose. 

"The  charge  against  you,  sir,"  said  the  judge, 
sternly,  "is  that  of  abduction.  Do  you  plead  guilty  or 
not  guilty  ?" 

"Not  guilty !"  cried  Scotch.  He  attempted  to  say  it 
in  a  firm  and  convincing  manner,  and,  as  a  result,  he 
roared  it  forth,  causing  the  judge  to  jump,  for  he  had 
not  expected  such  a  voice  from  so  small  a  man. 


Out  of  Trouble.  347 

"Well,  you  needn't  bellow  like  that!"  shot  back  the 
judge.  "I  am  not  deaf,  sir!" 

"Excuse  me,"  Scotch  hastened  to  say,  his  voice  still 
hoarse  and  heavy.  "It  is  my  natural  tone,  judge," 

"In  that  case  I  should  say  it  would  be  a  good  scheme 
for  you  to  get  your  voice  reduced  to  fit  your  size.  Sit 
down." 

Scotch  sat  down. 

Frank,  Harry  and  Jack  were  charged  with  being  the 
professor's  accomplices  and  assistants,  and  they  all 
pleaded  not  guilty. 

Then  the  judge  called  for  the  evidence,  and  the 
young  man  who  had  finally  succeeded  in  inducing  the 
girl  to  agree  to  marry  him  was  the  first  witness. 

He  said  his  name  was  John  Collins,  and  that  he  had 
known  Emma  Davis,  the  young  lady  with  the  child, 
more  than  a  year.  Of  his  own  accord  he  explained 
that  he  had  fallen  in  love  with  Emma  when  they  were 
both  in  the  employ  of  the  same  party,  a  few  months 
before.  Emma  had  encouraged  him  at  first,  but  when 
his  attentions  became  too  marked  she  tried  to  drop  him. 
He  would  not  be  dropped,  and  he  insisted  that  she 
marry  him.  Then  she  complained  to  the  boss,  and  he 
was  discharged.  He  was  determined  to  have  Emma 
for  his  wife.  He  watched  for  an  opportunity  to  see 
her  and  have  a  talk  with  her.  She  avoided  him. 


348  Out  of  Trouble. 

On  the  previous  day,  he  explained,  he  had  seen 
Emma  leave  the  place  where  she  was  employed  in  Meri- 
den.  She  had  the  baby  in  her  arms,  and  she  took  a 
train.  Collins  took  the  same  train,  and  followed 
Emma  to  Springfield.  When  she  left  the  train,  carry- 
ing the  baby,  he  stopped  her;  but  she  threatened  to 
have  him  arrested,  and  would  not  talk  with  him. 

He  followed  her  to  a  certain  house,  and  then  watched 
till  she  came  out  near  night,  and  followed  her  back  to 
the  station.  At  the  station  he  resolved  to  speak  with 
her  again,  and  he  did  so.  This  occurred  in  the  ladies' 
waiting-room.  While  he  was  trying  to  induce  her  to 
talk  with  him  a  youngster  interfered  and  an  encounter 
followed.  He  pointed  out  Frank  Merriwell  as  the  per- 
son who  interfered  with  him,  and  he  made  it  appear  a 
most  unprovoked  and  unwarranted  act. 

Collins  explained  that  when  a  policeman  was  sum- 
moned he  feared  arrest  and  so  he  got  away.  He  fol- 
lowed Emma  on  board  the  train.  Shortly  after  leav- 
ing Springfield  he  sought  the  girl,  determined  to  talk 
with  her.  In  passing  down  the  car  he  saw  Frank  Mer- 
riwell and  his  companions. 

Emma  threatened  to  complain  to  the  conductor  if 
Collins  did  not  let  her  alone,  and,  rather  than  get  into 
more  trouble,  he  told  her  he  would  go  back  into  the 
next  car ;  but  he  informed  her  that  he  should  never  give 


Out  of  Trouble.  349 

up  till  she  had  consented  to  marry  him.  He  would 
have  her  some  way. 

When  the  train  stopped  at  Hartford  the  girl  came  to 
him  and  begged  him  not  to  follow  her  about  any  more. 
She  left  the  sleeping  baby  in  the  other  car.  They 
talked  till  the  train  started.  Then  she  went  back  for 
the  child,  and  found  it  was  gone. 

The  girl  was  horribly  frightened,  and  fainted.  Then 
the  passengers  revived  her  and  told  her  of  the  red- 
whiskered  man  and  the  three  young  men  who  had  left 
the  train  at  Hartford,  taking  the  baby. 

Emma  hurried  to  Collins,  and  told  him  what  had 
happened.  He  declared  he  would  recover  the  child  for 
her.  They  left  the  train  at  the  first  stop,  and  took  a 
train  back  to  Hartford.  The  girl  was  quite  used  up 
from  crying  when  they  arrived  in  Hartford.  He  took 
her  to  a  hotel  and  left  her,  telling  her  to  remain  there 
till  he  sent  for  her. 

Then  he  set  out  to  trace  the  lost  baby.  He  found 
parties  who  had  observed  the  three  lads  and  the  red- 
whiskered  man  leave  the  car  with  the  child.  He  finally 
found  the  cabman  who  had  taken  the  party  to  a  hotel. 
In  that  way,  by  morning  he  located  the  kidnapers.  He 
took  a  policeman  with  him,  and  was  making  sure  they 
were  in  the  hotel  when  he  saw  the  red-whiskered  man 


350  Out  of  Trouble. 

coming  downstairs,  carrying  the  baby  in  his  arms. 
Then  the  entire  party  was  arrested. 

That  was  Collins'  story.  He  had  sent  for  Emma  to 
meet  him  at  court,  knowing  he  could  fill  her  with  joy 
unbounded  by  restoring  the  baby  to  her  just  when  she 
fancied  herself  under  arrest  and  liable  to  imprisonment 
for  losing  the  little  one.  He  had  worked  his  cards 
very  well,  and  now  she  had  promised  to  marry  him. 

No  person  in  the  courtroom  was  so  well  satisfied  with 
the  outcome  of  the  affair  as  Collins.  He  grinned  his 
satisfaction,  and  gave  Merriwell  a  most  crushing  look. 

Then  the  girl  was  called  on  to  tell  her  story.  She 
turned  the  baby  over  to  Collins,  as  she  stood  up  to  be 
sworn.  She  corroborated  Collins  in  everything.  She 
further  explained  how  it  happened  that  she  visited 
Springfield  with  the  baby. 

The  baby's  grandmother  lived  in  Springfield.  She 
was  a  very  old  and  feeble  lady,  and  she  had  never  seen 
the  child.  The  baby's  mother  was  in  such  delicate 
health  that  she  could  not  travel  from  Meriden  to 
Springfield.  The  grandmother  did  not  expect  to  live 
long,  and  she  implored  the  mother  to  bring  the  child,  or 
send  it  to  her,  so  she  might  obtain  a  look  at  it.  The 
mother  trusted  the  girl,  and  she  finally  decided  to  send 
Emma  to  Springfield  with  the  baby.  This  plan  was 
carried  out.  For  once  in  her  life,  at  least,  Emma  did 


Out  of  Trouble.  351 

a  most  careless  thing,  and  left  the  child  asleep  on  the 
car  seat  for  a  few  minutes.  Then  the  baby  disap- 
peared. 

The  judge  then  inquired  if  the  baby's  parents  had 
been  notified  as  to  what  had  Happened.  He  was  in- 
formed that  they  had,  and  that  the  father  would  ar- 
rive in  Hartford  on  a  certain  train — in  fact,  must 
have  arrived  already,  and  be  on  his  way  to  the  court- 
room. 

Then  Scotch  was  called  on  to  tell  his  story.  He  did 
so  in  his  eccentric  way,  and  it  was  plain  that  he  was 
not  believed.  The  judge,  the  witnesses,  and  the  spec- 
tators all  regarded  him  as  a  desperate  criminal,  and  the 
judge  endeavored  to  get  at  the  motive  for  the  crime  by 
asking  some  questions.  Scotch  finally  grew  angry  and 
called  the  judge  an  old  numskull,  whereupon  he  was 
promptly  fined  for  contempt  of  court. 

Then  there  was  a  stir  in  the  courtroom.  A  tall, 
excited  man  came  rushing  in,  his  face  covered  with 
perspiration.  He  waved  his  arms  and  wildly  de- 
manded : 

"Where  is  he — where  is  little  Horace  Scotch  Jenks, 
my  only  son  and  heir?  Produce  him — bring  him 
forth!" 

"Caesar's  ghost!"  roared  Professor  Scotch.  "It  is 
my  old  friend,  Hiram  Jenks,  of  Fardale  Academy!" 


352  Out  of  Trouble. 

"It  is  Protessor  Jenks,  as  I  live  and  breathe!"  cried 
Frank  Merriwell,  who  was  no  less  astonished  than 
Scotch.  "Is  it  possible  he  is  the  father  of  this  mys- 
terious baby?" 

Professor  Jenks  recognized  Scotch  in  a  moment 

"Horace!"  he  cried,  rushing  forward,  with  out- 
stretched arms.  "Horace,  my  dear  friend !  Is  it  pos- 
sible we  meet  again?" 

"It  seems  so !"  rumbled  Scotch ;  "thank  fortune !" 

Then  the  tall  man  and  the  little  man  embraced  in  a 
manner  that  provoked  smiles  from  the  witnesses. 

"Here,  professor — here  is  the  baby !"  cried  the  girl, 
holding  up  the  infant,  eager  to  show  that  it  was  safe. 

Professor  Jenks  rushed  over  and  took  the  child.  He 
kissed  it  and  called  it  "Hoddie."  Then  he  rushed  back 
and  held  it  up  for  Scotch  to  see. 

"Isn't  he  a  little  beauty  ?"  demanded  Jenks,  with  all  a 
father's  pride  and  satisfaction.  "And  I  induced  his 
mother  to  name  him  Horace  Scotch,  after  you,  my  dear 
friend.  You  know  we  were  rivals  for  the  affections  of 
the  Widow  Cobb,  and  I  captured  the  prize.  But  she 
has  not  forgotten  you,  and  she  was  willing  to  call  little 
Hoddie  after  you." 

"And  this,''  roared  Professor  Scotch,  between  in- 
dignation and  laughter,  "is  the  baby  I  have  been  ar- 
rested for  kidnaping!" 


Out  of  Trouble.  353 

Of  course  Professor  Scotch  and  the  boys  were  dis- 
charged by  the  judge.  Then  the  red-faced  man  of  the 
hotel  and  the  man  who  wore  the  pajamas  hastened  to 
offer  congratulations  and  express  themselves  as  having 
never  believed  it  possible  Scotch  could  be  a  man  who 
would  kidnap  a  poor  little  innocent  child. 

The  man  with  the  soiled  shirt  and  paper  collar,  the 
tall  man  with  his  eye  out  of  plumb,  the  countryman 
with  tobacco  juice  on  his  whiskers,  and  all  the  others 
who  had  pronounced  Scotch  and  the  boys  such  desper- 
ate criminals  felt  personally  injured,  and  they  left  the 
courtroom,  expressing  to  each  other  their  conviction 
that  if  the  man  and  the  boys  were  not  criminals  they 
should  be. 

Professor  Jenks  invited  Scotch  and  the  boys  to  visit 
him.  Scotch  agreed,  but  the  lads  were  eager  to  get 
back  to  Yale,  dreading  the  explanations  they  must  give. 

At  the  solicitation  of  the  girl  Professor  Jenks  agreed 
to  take  John  Collins  back  into  his  employ,  and  every- 
thing seemed  to  have  ended  in  a  very  satisfactory 
manner,  for  Scotch  was  so  good-natured  that  he  lost  no 
time  in  filling  out  a  check  for  the  sum  of  money  Frank 
desired. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
EUNICE'S  SECRET. 

When  New  Haven  was  reached  the  boys  were  met 
by  a  riotous  band  of  students  bearing  banners,  on 
which  were  lettered  inscriptions  like  the  following: 

"The  great  kidnapers,"  "This  is  a  horse  on  Merri- 
well,"  "Who  said  haby — I — I  mean  baby? — Rattle- 
ton,"  "Baby,  baby,  that  is  the  name  I  love — Diamond." 

As  the  boys  stepped  off  the  train  a  wild  yell  went  up 
from  the  assembled  students.  Then  the  trio  felt  them- 
selves grasped  and  hustled  into  line,  and  away  went 
the  procession,  with  a  fife  and  drum  corps  banging 
away  at  the  head  of  the  young  fellows  cheering  all 
along  the  line. 

Rattleton  accepted  it  as  a  good  joke,  but  Diamond 
was  overcome  with  mortification,  and  longed  for  the 
ground  to  swallow  him.  Merriwell  smiled  and  said 
nothing,  knowing  the  boys  were  wondering  how  the 
students  got  onto  the  matter. 

The  next  morning  Frank  received  a  nice  note  from 
Winnie  asking  him  to  call  that  afternoon. 

Frank  was  pleased,  yet  he  wondered  how  he  would 
be  received. 


Eunice's  Secret.  355 

"She  cut  me  on  the  street/'  he  speculated.  "I  fancy 
it  will  be  somewhat  embarrassing  when  we  meet." 

In  the  meantime,  he  set  about  some  detective  work. 
He  believed  that  there  must  have  been  several  witnesses 
to  the  cowardly  blow  he  had  received  when  he  was 
about  to  make  the  attempt  to  stop  the  runaway  horse 
and  it  was  his  desire  to  find  them  all.  He  seemed  to 
remember  that  a  man  who  was  standing  on  a  corner 
nearby  at  the  time  must  have  witnessed  the  whole  af- 
fair. 

Frank  found  time  to  go  down  to  that  part  of  the  city 
and  seek  for  witnesses,  but  at  first  he  did  not  discover 
any  person  who  had  seen  him  knocked  down.  H« 
found  several  who  saw  him  jump  up  after  the  runaway 
passed,  and  they  all  supposed  he  had  been  upset  by  the 
horse,  or  had  leaped  from  the  carriage. 

"I  am  quite  sure  Winnie  will  be  able  to  settle  it," 
thought  Frank.  "She  must  have  seen  the  fellow  fairly, 
and  she  will  know  if  it  was  Hartwick." 

Two  reporters  had  called  on  Frank,  and  the  papers 
came  out  with  a  description  of  the  runaway  and  Frank's 
gallant  work  in  stopping  the  frightened  horse. 

Winnie  Lee  had  also  been  interviewed,  and  she  had 
said  some  very  complimentary  things  about  Frank, 
so  that  he  blushed  like  a  girl  when  he  read  the  reports 
in  the  papers. 


356  Eunice's  Secret. 

There  were  few  students  at  Yale  who  did  not  read 
the  accounts  of  the  affair  in  the  papers  or  heard  all 
about  it  from  some  other  fellow  within  a  short  time, 
and  Frank  found  that  he  had  again  done  something  to 
distinguish  himself. 

Frank  waited  with  impatience  the  approach  of  the 
hour  set  by  Winnie  for  him  to  call.  It  came  at  last, 
and  within  one  minute  of  the  time  set  he  ascended  the 
steps  of  her  home  and  rang  the  bell. 

That  she  was  watching  for  him  immediately  became 
evident,  for  the  door  instantly  opened  and  Winnie  was 
there.  She  had  not  been  able  to  wait  for  a  servant  to 
let  him  in. 

Winnie  caught  hold  of  Frank's  hands  with  both  of 
hers,  and  drew  him  into  the  hall. 

"Frank!" 

"Winnie,  my  queen !" 

And  Frank  knew  the  past  was  forgotten. 

It  was  nearly  an  hour  later  that  Eunice  Darley,  who 
was  visiting  Winnie  and  who  was  in  a  room  above,  was 
called  down  to  meet  Frank. 

Eunice  found  two  very  happy-looking  young  persons 
in  the  parlor,  and  it  was  plain  they  had  come  to  a  per- 
fect understanding. 

Eunice  gave  Frank  her  hand. 

"I  am  very  glad  to  see  you,  Mr.  Merriwell,"  she  de- 


Eunice's  Secret.  357 

clared;  "and  I  congratulate  you  on  your  remarkable 
achievement  in  stopping  Winnie's  runaway  horse.  I 
have  read  the  papers  to-day — we  both  read  them,  didn't 
we,  Winnie?  You  are  a  perfect  hero.  And  the  re- 
porters say  this  is  but  one  of  many  heroic  things  you 
have  done." 

"The  reporters  like  to  exaggerate,  you  know,"  smiled 
Frank. 

"I  am  sure  that  statement  was  not  an  exaggeration," 
said  Eunice,  who  seemed  to  have  changed  since  Frank 
saw  her  last,  being  much  graver  and  more  dignified. 

"Of  course  it  wasn't!"  cried  Winnie.  "Why,  I've 
just  found  out  that  he  has  traveled  all  over  the  world. 
He  has  saved  other  girls  from  greater  peril  than  I  was 
in  yesterday.  Why  he  says  he  was  able  to  save  Miss 
Bellwood  from  the  clutches  of  a  gorilla  in  Africa!" 

"Then  there  is  such  a  person  as  Miss  Bellwood?" 
asked  Eunice. 

"Oh,  yes;  he  acknowledges  that." 

"And  Miss  Burrage." 

"Yes,  he  says  there  is  a  Miss  Burrage." 

Eunice  seemed  surprised. 

"I  did  not  believe  it,"  she  acknowledged.  "I  felt 
certain  the  proofs  you  received  from  a  certain  person 
who  did  not  sign  his  name  to  his  letters  were  all  manu- 
factured to  injure  Mr.  Merriwell." 


358  Eunice's  Secret. 

"No,"  said  Frank,  gravely ;  "a  part  of  what  this  per- 
son claimed  is  true,  and  a  part  is  false.  I  wondered 
that  Winnie  should  cut  me  as  she  did  after  our  little 
misunderstanding,  and  I  never  knew  the  cause  till  a 
short  time  ago,  when  she  showed  me  the  anonymous 
letters  she  received.  The  writer  of  these  letters  had 
been  to  some  pains  to  find  out  about  my  history.  He 
had  found  out  that  my  father  was  a  fortune-seeker  and 
was  seldom  seen  at  his  home  during  the  last  years  of 
my  mother's  life;  but  he  lied  when  he  said  my  father 
was  a  gambler  and  a  criminal." 

A  look  of  pain  came  to  Eunice  Barley's  face,  and 
she  pressed  her  handkerchief  to  her  lips.  Frank  ob- 
served her  agitation,  but  she  motioned  for  him  to  pro- 
ceed. 

"My  accuser  was  unable  to  prove  that  my  father  had 
ever  committed  a  criminal  act,  but  he  could  offer  proof 
that  he  was  a  wanderer  and  an  apparent  outcast.  He 
could  also  offer  proof  that  I  had  corresponded  with 
Inza  Burrage  and  Elsie  Bellwood,  and  that,  in  a  cer- 
tain way,  I  had  been  very  attentive  to  them  both.  That 
I  ever  pledged  myself  to  marry  either  of  them  is  false. 
That  I  broke  Elsie  Bellwood's  heart  by  my  treatment  of 
her  is  also  false.  That  I  am  still  bound  to  Inza  Bur- 
rage  is  not  true.  Both  of  these  girls  ceased  to  corre- 
spond with  me  of  their  own  accord.  I  wrote  them  last, 


Eunice's  Secret.  359 

and  they  have  not  replied.  Where  either  of  them  can 
be  now  I  have  not  the  least  idea. 

"There,  that  is  the  truth,  and  Winnie  believes  me. 
She  is  sorry  she  allowed  herself  to  be  deceived  by  a  per- 
son who  is  my  relentless  and  unscrupulous  enemy.  We 
have  come  to  a  perfect  understanding,  and  I  do  not 
think  he  will  be  able  to  make  any  further  trouble  be- 
tween us.  What  do  you  think,  little  queen?" 

Winnie  smiled  up  at  him. 

"You  know  I  have  told  you  I'll  never  allow  any- 
body to  cause  me  to  doubt  you  again,  Frank." 

"I  am  certain,"  said  Frank,  "that  the  writer  of  the 
letters  to  Winnie  was  the  same  one  who  struck  me 
down  in  front  of  the  runaway  horse  yesterday ;  but,  un- 
fortunately, Winnie  was  so  frightened  at  the  time  that 
she  did  not  observe  him  closely,  and  she  is  not  ready  to 
swear  it  was  Evan  Hartwick." 

"Oh,  he  is  mean  and  cruel  and  cowardly  enough  to 
do  that!"  cried  Eunice  Darley,  springing  to  her  feet 
and  walking  the  floor  in  great  excitement. 

Winnie  was  at  the  side  of  her  friend  in  a  moment. 

"Be  calm,  Eunice,"  she  urged.  "Frank  declares  he 
will  return  Hartwick's  blow.  He  has  stood  too  much 
from  that  fellow,  and  he  means  to  crush  him  now." 

"But  it  must  not  be  known  that  I  ever  did  anything 
against  him!"  fluttered  Eunice,  in  terror.  "He  must 


360  Eunice's  Secret. 

not  know  that  I  identified  the  writing  of  the  anonymous 
letters  you  received  as  being  his,  for  all  that  it  was 
disguised." 

"He  shall  not  know." 

"How  can  Mr.  Merriwell  strike  him  without  letting 
him  know  we  are  in  any  manner  concerned  ?" 

"He  hopes  to  find  witnesses  to  prove  that  Hartwick 
struck  him  down  almost  beneath  the  feet  of  my  horse. 
That  will  cause  Hartwick's  expulsion  from  college." 

"And  that  will  be  the  heaviest  blow  he  could  re- 
ceive," declared  Eunice.  "I  am  sure  his  father  will 
make  him  go  to  work  and  earn  his  own  living  if  he  is 
expelled." 

"Then  it  will  be  the  best  thing  for  everybody  if  he  is 
expelled,"  said  Frank.  "He  will  be  busy,  and  he  will 
not  have  so  much  time  to  trouble  others." 

"Oh,  if  I  might  never  see  his  face  again! — if  I 
might  never  hear  of  him  again !"  cried  Eunice. 

Frank  wondered  at  the  girl's  fear  and  horror  of 
Hartwick.  It  seemed  remarkable. 

Of  a  sudden,  releasing  herself  of  Winnie's  arm, 
which  had  been  about  her  waist,  Eunice  turned  to 
|  Frank. 

"Mr.  Merriwell,"  she  said,  swiftly,  "I  believe  you 
are  thoroughly  honorable,  and  I  think  I  may  trust  you 
with  my  secret.  I  am  sure  you  will  not  betray  it." 


Eunice's  Secret  361 

And  then  before  he  could  speak  she  went  on: 
"I  have  a  brother.  He  was  charged  with  a  crime, 
and  he  is  in  prison.  He  was  tried  and  committed  un- 
der a  fictitious  name.  His  mother  does  not  know  what 
has  become  of  him.  She  thinks  he  went  to  Australia, 
and  she  expects  him  to  return  some  day.  It  would 
break  her  heart  if  she  knew  the  truth.  Evan  Hartwick 
knows  it." 

She  choked  at  that  point,  and  then  bravely  con- 
tinued : 

"This  wretch  Hartwick  has  used  that  secret  to  com- 
pel me  to  do  things  he  could  not  have  induced  me  to 
do  in  any  other  way.  He  forced  me  to  aid  him  in  try- 
ing to  win  Winnie's  regard;  he  compelled  me  to  drop 
the  drug  in  your  glass  of  drinking  water  at  the  time 
when  you  afterward  seemed  to  be  intoxicated  at  Mrs. 
Greydon's ;  he  has  made  me  pretend  to  like  him  when 
I  have  despised  and  hated  him  all  the  time.  This  is  the 
truth,  Mr.  Merriwell — the  wretched  truth !" 

"I  believe  you,  Miss  Darley." 

"I  would  give  anything  if  that  fellow  was  compelled 
to  go  to  some  foreign  country  and  remain  there  the 
rest  of  his  life — if  he  might  never  communicate  with 
any  one  in  this  country." 

"I  have  no  further  regard  for  Mr.  Hartwick,"  sard 


362  Eunice's  Secret 

Frank,  rising.  "I  shall  return  the  blow  he  struck  me 
— with  interest.  If  I  can  prove  he  delivered  that  blow, 
he  will  be  forced  to  leave  Yale.  I'll  not  bring  either  of 
you  two  young  ladies  into  the  matter,  but  I  will  utterly 
crush  the  fellow !" 

Frank's  face  showed  that  he  was  most  intensely  in 
earnest 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

EVIL   PASSIONS. 

Hartwick  was  raging  in  his  room  like  a  caged  and 
infuriated  wild  beast.  In  his  hand  he  held  a  paper 
which  gave  a  full  account  of  Frank  Merriwell's  feat 
in  pursuing  and  stopping  the  runaway.  In  connection 
with  the  report  of  the  affair  was  a  brief  sketch  of  Mer- 
riwell's career  since  entering  Yale,  and  he  was  pictured 
as  a  most  ambitious,  nervy  and  remarkable  young  man. 

The  door  opened  and  Ditson  sauntered  in,  dressed 
immaculately  and  smoking  a  cigarette.  The  contrast 
between  the  polished  appearance  of  Ditson  and  Hart- 
wick's  air  of  general  slouchiness  was  remarkable. 

A  stranger  seeing  the  two  together  would  have  sup- 
posed Ditson  was  the  son  of  very  wealthy  parents, 
while  Hartwick's  parents  were  poor. 

"Ah,  dear  boy!"  greeted  Roland,  in  a  languid  way. 
"What  is  the  matter?  Something  unusual,  I  am 
sure." 

"Come  in  and  close  that  door,  confound  you!" 
snarled  Hartwick.  "I  don't  care  to  have  everybody 
who  goes  past  staring  in  here." 


364  Evil  Passions. 

Ditson  obeyed  the  command  in  a  very  leisurely  man- 
ner. 

"You  seem  to  be  somewhat  excited,  Harty,"  he  ob- 
served, as  he  toddled  over  to  a  chair,  upon  which  he 
gracefully  sank. 

"Harty!"  cried  Evan,  fiercely.  "You  want  to  drop 
that!  If  you  value  your  personal  safety,  don't  call 
me  Harty!" 

"By  Jove!  but  you  are  in  a  bad  way,  dear  boy! 
what  can  be  the  matter  with  you?  I  never  saw  you 
quite  so  excited." 

"Look  at  this!  Confound  your  eyes!  can  you  see 
this?  Read  it!  If  that  isn't  enough  to  drive  a  man 
out  of  his  senses!" 

He  held  the  paper  before  Ditson,  and  pointed  with 
8  trembling  finger  to  the  article  concerning  Merriwell. 

"Aw !     I've  read  all  that,  my  boy,"  drawled  Roll. 

"Oh,  you  have?" 

"Yes.  I  presume  nearly  every  fellow  in  college 
knows  about  it  by  this  time,  you  understand." 

"That's  it!"  Hartwick  almost  shrieked.  "It  is  that 
fellow's  infernal  luck!  He  is  a  hero  again!  Oh,  if 
that  horse  had  gone  over  him — had  trampled  him  to 
death!" 

"You  mean  when  he  was  knocked  down  by  the  horse 
as  he  tried  to  stop  it  the  first  time  ?" 


Evil  Passions.  365 

"Knocked  down  by  the  horse !  Bah !  That  is  what 
knocked  him  down!"  and  Hartwick  shook  his  fist  un- 
der Ditson's  nose. 

Roll  elevated  his  eyebrows. 

"Really?"  he  exclaimed.     "I  don't  understand." 

"I  struck  him  down,  you  blockhead!  Do  you  un- 
derstand now?" 

"Look  here,  Hartwick,  you  want  to  be  a  bit  more 
careful  with  your  tongue!  I  don't  care  about  being 
called  names — not  even  from  you." 

"Oh,  is  that  so?  I  am  the  only  man  at  Yale  who 
does  not  call  you  names.  All  the  others  call  you  a 
traitor  and  a  sneak !" 

"That's  all  right!  I'll  make  some  of  them  sorry 
some  time!" 

"Yes,  you  will — nit!  You  haven't  the  nerve  of  a 
sick  cat !" 

Ditson  flung  aside  his  cigarette  and  straightened  up. 

"I  have  stood  as  much  of  this  from  you  as  I  am 
going  to  stand,  Hartwick,"  he  declared.  "You  want 
to  drop  it,  or  I  will  do  something  you  won't  like." 

A  sneer  came  to  Hartwick's  face.  He  was  in  an 
ugly  mood,  and,  from  all  appearances,  he  had  never 
liked  Ditson.  Now  he  seemed  to  rejoice  in  the  op- 
portunity to  pick  a  quarrel  with  him. 


366  Evil  Passions. 

"What  will  you  do  ?"  he  asked,  mockingly.  "What 
will  you  dare  to  do,  you  brave  fellow?" 

"You  ought  to  be  aware  that  I  can  do  something  un- 
pleasant if  I  care  to.  I  can  tell  certain  things  con- 
cerning you  that " 

"Oh,  very  brave !  Yes,  I  suppose  you  might.  You 
kept  that  foil  with  which  I  tried  to  mark  him  for  life  by 
driving  the  point  through  his  mask.  You  could  show 
that  I  fixed  the  button  so  I  could  remove  it.  Oh,  yes, 
you  might  do  that !" 

"I  did  not  say  that  I  would,  Hartwick,"  said  Roland, 
quickly;  "but  I  want  you  to  remember  what  I  might 
do."  ' 

"If  you  do  such  a  thing,  you  want  to  look  out  for 
me!"  Hartwick  snarled.  "I'll  get  at  you  some  way!" 

"Oh,  I  don't  know!"  returned  Ditson,  somewhat 
tauntingly.  "You  don't  seem  to  get  at  Merriwell  so 
very  fast." 

"Ah-rr-rh !"  snarled  Evan,  grinding  his  teeth.  "No 
other  fellow  in  the  world  could  have  such  luck  as  that 
dog!  I  have  been  watching  for  a  month  to  get  at 
him.  Yesterday  I  saw  my  opportunity.  I  saw  him 
walking  along  the  street.  At  the  same  moment  I  saw 
this  runaway,  and  I  recognized  Winnie  Lee  in  the  car- 
riage. I  saw  him  prepare  to  stop  the  horse  and  save 


Evil  Passions.  367 

her.  The  thought  that  he  would  again  become  a  hero 
in  her  eyes  maddened  me !" 

Ditson  grinned  scornfully. 

"Still  stuck  on  her,"  he  commented.  "Still  fancy- 
ing you  can  get  back  into  her  favor  some  way." 

"At  that  moment  I  hated  them  both!"  cried  Hart- 
wick,  fiercely.  "I  felt  that  I  had  rather  she  should  be 
dashed  from  the  carriage  and  killed  than  that  he  should 
rescue  her  and  again  become  a  hero  in  her  eyes !" 

"Well,  what  did  you  do?" 

"I  was  furious!  I  believe  I  was  mad  for  the  mo- 
ment. I  saw  him  rush  out  to  stop  the  horse.  As  the 
horse  came  along  I  struck  Merriwell  on  the  back  of  the 
head,  knocking  him  down  directly  before  the  fright- 
ened animal,  and  he  was  stunned  so  he  lay  there. 
There  was  no  time  for  him  to  escape  had  he  not  been 
stunned. 

Ditson  was  greatly  interested. 

"And  still  he  escaped/' 

Hartwick  gave  another  snarl. 

"Escaped!  Satan  must  have  protected  him!  The 
horse  sheered — the  wheels  brushed  him — he  was  not 
touched!  Think  of  that!  If  it  had  been  any  other 
fellow  he  would  have  been  maimed  or  killed ;  but  Mer- 
riwell escaped  without  harm." 

"And  you?" 


368  Evil  Passions. 

"I  got  out  of  that  as  quickly  as  I  could.  He  was 
stunned,  and  he  did  not  know  who  hit  him.  When 
he  jumped  up  he  rushed  after  the  runaway,  without 
looking  for  me." 

"And  he  stopped  the  runaway?" 

"Oh,  yes!  oh,  yes!  Of  course  he  did!  Somebody 
had  a  horse  ready  at  hand  for  the  emergency,  and  with 
the  aid  of  that  horse  he  overtook  the  runaway  and 
brought  him  to  a  halt,  which  anybody  could  have  done. 
Now  he  is  once  more  a  hero,  when  he  should  be  lying 
in  the  hospital !" 

Hartwick  raved  like  a  maniac,  tearing  about  the 
room.  Ditson  really  enjoyed  it.  He  lay  back  and 
lighted  a  fresh  cigarette,  something  like  a  smile  lurk- 
ing about  his  face. 

At  last  Hartwick  stopped  before  Roland. 

"What  are  you  grinning  about?"  he  grated,  quiv- 
ering with  rage.  "I  believe  you  are  glad  this  hap- 
pened as  it  did !" 

"Oh,  no,  dear  boy!" 

"Don't  'dear  boy'  me!  I  know  you  are  no  real 
friend  of  mine!  I  have  known  it  all  along!  What 
are  you  in  here  to-day  for,  anyway?" 

"Why,  I  called  to  see  you,  that  is  all." 

"Well,  it  is  time  for  you  to  go.    You  do  not  im- 


Evil  Passions.  369 

prove  the  state  of  my  mind  at  all.  Your  room  is  pref- 
erable to  your  company." 

Ditson  was  surprised,  for  Hartwick  had  never  dared 
to  speak  in  such  a  manner  to  him  before  this. 

"Oh,  well,  I'll  go !"  he  said ;  "but  you  might  let  me 
have  twenty-five  dollars,  as  I  need  it  bad,  you  know, 
dear  boy." 

"So  that  is  what  you  came  in  for  ?  That's  what  you 
have  hung  onto  me  all  along  for !  I  knew  it !" 

"Oh,  come  now "  Ditson  started  to  protest. 

"Shut  up!"  hissed  Hartwick.  "I  know  it,  I  tell 
you!  You  have  kept  that  foil  that  you  might  keep 
your  grip  on  me!  You  have  borrowed,  borrowed, 
borrowed !  Not  a  dollar  or  a  cent  have  you  paid  back. 
It  has  been  blackmail  pure  and  simple !" 

"Oh,  my  dear  fellow,  you  are " 

"Shut  up!"  came  still  more  fiercely  from  Evan.  "I 
have  seen  through  your  little  game  all  along!  Now  I 
am  going  to  tell  you  something." 

"Go  ahead." 

"If  you  do  not  give  up  that  foil  this  day,  I'll  make 
you  sorry  you  were  born!  No  more  money  do  you 
get  from  me !  Understand  that !  If  I  lay  for  you,  I'll 
get  you !  You'll  have  no  such  luck  to  save  you  as  this 
fellow  Merriwell!" 


370  Evil  Passions. 

"Why,  you  are  threatening  me,  are  you?  You  are 
going  to  push  me  to  the  wall  ?" 

"I  am  going  to  make  you  give  up  that  foil  and  then 
I  am  done  with  you.  You  are  no  assistance  to  me, 
because  you  have  not  the  nerve  to  strike  at  Merriwell. 
You  let  me  do  everything." 

A  desperate  look  came  into  Ditson's  eyes.  He  had 
held  Hartwick  in  his  grip,  and  he  did  not  propose  to 
lose  his  hold  so  easily. 

"I  shall  not  give  up  the  foil,"  he  declared;  "and  I 
want  twenty-five  dollars.  I  want  it  now." 

Ditson  had  decided  to  become  absolute  master  then 
and  there. 

"You'll  not  get  twenty-five  cents!"  shouted  Hart- 
wick,  unable  to  keep  his  voice  down.  "And  if  you  do 
not  give  up  that  foil " 

"I  will  give  it  up — but  not  to  you." 

"What  do  you  mean?" 

"I'll  give  it  to  Merriwell.  Do  not  think  for  a  mo- 
ment that  he  will  be  soft  enough  to  let  you  off  again. 
I'll  tell  him  all  I  know !  The  foil  will  be  proof.  And 
then " 

With  a  snarl  like  the  sound  that  might  have  come 
from  the  lips  of  a  mad  dog,  Hartwick  leaped  on  Dit- 
son, caught  him  by  the  throat,  and  bore  him  backward 
across  the  couch.  Evan's  fingers  closed  on  Ditson's 


Evil  Passions.  371 

tHroat,  choking  back  any  words  or  cry  that  might  arise. 
He  pressed  his  thumbs  into  the  windpipe  of  the  at- 
tacked lad,  and  forced  his  knee  deep  into  the  pit  of 
Ditson's  stomach.  His  face  was  working  with  a  ter- 
rible, unreasoning  passion,  and  his  eyes  glared  with  a 
light  that  filled  Ditson's  soul  with  horror  inexpressible. 

And  then,  as  Ditson  grew  black  in  the  face,  Hart- 
wick  suddenly  gasped  for  breath,  his  grip  slackened, 
and  he  staggered  backward,  dropping  limply  into  a 
chair.  His  heart  was  not  performing  its  proper  func- 
tions. His  rage  had  brought  on  another  attack. 

Ditson  sat  up,  and  the  two  glared  at  each  other. 
Hartwick  was  pressing  his  hands  to  his  heart,  while 
Ditson  was  rubbing  his  throat. 

A  great  fear  had  come  into  Ditson's  eyes.  He  real- 
ized at  last  that  he  had  been  playing  with  fire. 

"He  meant  murder!"  Roland  thought 

"I  saw  it  in  his  face!  I  saw  the  foul  fiend  in  his 
eyes!  It  was  a  close  call  for  me!  I  must  get  out!" 

Then  he  arose  weakly  to  his  feet,  and  hastened  from 
the  room,  trembling  in  every  limb. 

Hartwick  called  to  Ditson  in  a  whisper,  and  mo- 
tioned for  him  to  stay;  but  Roland  paid  no  attention, 
save  it  were  to  hasten  away  all  the  faster. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

PROOF. 

Ditson  was  badly  frightened,  and  he  was  furious  at 
the  same  time, 

"I  am  done  with  him/'  he  muttered.  "But  I'll  fix 
him!  No  fellow  can  use  me  that  way!  I'll  make 
him  sorry !  He  will  be  driven  from  Yale !" 

He  believed  he  had  lost  his  grip  on  Hartwick,  and 
he  was  in  a  desperate  mood.  He  felt  that  he  would 
do  anything  to  get  even  with  the  fellow  who  had  made 
such  a  fierce  assault  upon  him. 

Ditson  was  revengeful,  but  he  lacked  nerve.  He 
was  not  one  to  engage  in  an  open  encounter  with  a  foe. 

He  was  not  logical  in  his  reasoning,  and,  being  en- 
raged, he  did  not  pause  to  consider  that  he  might  get 
himself  involved  if  he  tried  to  strike  at  Hartwick. 

Now  that  he  feared  Hartwick,  Ditson's  one  thought 
was  to  drive  him  from  the  college,  which  he  believed 
could  be  done. 

That  evening  Merriwell  came  into  his  room,  a  look 
of  satisfaction  on  his  face.     Rattleton  was  studying. 
"I  have  the  proof  that  I  want,"  declared  Frank. 


Proof.  373 

"Eh  ?"  said  Harry,  looking  up  and  tossing  the  book 
aside.  "How  is  that?" 

"I  have  found  a  man  who  saw  the  person  who  struck 
me." 

"Scrate  Gott! — I  mean  great  Scott!  you  don't  say 
so!" 

"I  am  giving  it  to  you  straight." 

"Who  is  it?" 

"A  man  who  was  on  a  nearby  corner  at  the  Time  I 
was  struck." 

"What  does  he  say?" 

"He  says  he  saw  the  fellow  who  struck  me,  and  he 
is  certain  to  recognize  him  if  he  sees  him  again." 

"And  it  was  Hartwick  who  did  the  job?" 

"It  seems  so." 

"What  are  you  going  to  do?" 

"Prove  it,  and  then  strike  back." 

"How  will  you  bike  strack — or,  strike  back?" 

"With  this,"  and  Frank  held  up  his  fist. 

"That's  all  right,  but  it's  not  all  you  are  going  to  do, 
is  it?" 

"Wait  and  see." 

"You  are  foolish  if  you  do  not  crush  Hartwick. 
You  can  have  no  sympathy  for  him  now,  and  you 
should " 

Harry  stopped.     The  door  opened  and  three  fellows 


374  Proof. 

came  in.  They  were  Browning,  Diamond  and  Gris- 
wold. 

"Hello,  fellows!"  cried  Griswold,  cheerily.  "Why, 
that  is  a  tragic  attitude  of  yours,  Merriwell.  You  look 
like  an  actor.  I  was  an  actor  myself  once.  I  went 
out  with  the  Baker  Shop  Company,  and  played  a  lead- 
ing role." 

"But  he  didn't  get  the  dough,  even  though  he 
kneaded  it,"  murmured  Browning,  as  he  settled  into  a 
comfortable  chair. 

"No,  I  couldn't  seem  to  make  a  raise/'  said  Gris- 
wold, with  a  grin. 

"Look  here !"  cried  Diamond ;  "you  fellows  will  harve 
to  stop  punning,  or  I'll  chase  myself." 

"Speaking  about  chasing  yourself  makes  me  think  of 
a  horse  race  I  witnessed  the  other  day,"  observed  Gris- 
wold. "It  was  between  two  horses  with  very  peculiar 
names — Feet  and  Brains." 

"Yah!"  grunted  Bruce,  wearily.  "I  presume  Feet 
had  a  walkover  ?" 

"No,"  chuckled  Danny,  "Brains  came  in  a  head." 

"Get  outT  shouted  Rattleton — "get  out  of  here! 
Every  time  you  fellows  come  around  you  bring  a  load 
of  chestnuts,  and  we  stand  can't  it — I  mean  we  can't 
stand  it!" 


Proof.  375 

"Not  guilty!"  protested  Diamond.  "You  never 
hear  me  springing  gags  of  that  sort." 

"That's  so,"  nodded  Frank.  "Sit  down,  Diamond, 
and  make  yourself  at  home.  You  are  welcome." 

"Hey?"  cried  Griswold.  "Does  that  mean  that 
Browning  and  I  are  not  welcome?" 

"Oh,  no,  not  at  all,"  smiled  Frank.  "You  are  all 
welcome." 

"What  a  relief!"  sighed  Browning.  "I  am  settled 
for  the  evening." 

"On  the  level,  Merriwell,"  said  Browning,  "we 
dropped  in  to  congratulate  you  on  your  freshly  ac- 
quired fame.  That  was  a  great  job  you  did  in  stop- 
ping that  runaway  horse,  not  to  mention  the  baby " 

"It  was  not  so  much,"  said  Frank.  "The  papers 
made  it  seem  more  of  a  trick  than  it  really  was." 

"You  are  too  modest  altogether,  Merry,"  cried  Gris- 
wold. 

"But  we  have  heard  something  about  your  being 
knocked  down  in  front  of  the  horse,"  said  Diamond. 
"Is  that  a  fake,  or  is  it  straight  ?" 

"It  is  straight  enough,"  nodded  Frank,  suddenly  be- 
coming serious.  "I  was  knocked  down." 

"By  some  person  ?" 

"Yes." 

"And  do  you  know  who  it  was?" 


376  Proof. 

"Not  absolutely,  but  I  will  know  before  long." 

"I  can  tell  you  now,  Mr.  Merriwell,"  declared  the 
voice  of  a  person,  who  now  pushed  open  the  door, 
which  had  been  standing  slightly  ajar,  and  entered  the 
room. 

"Ditson !"  cried  the  lads  in  astonishment. 

"Ditson — here!"  muttered  Frank. 

"Mr.  Merriwell,"  said  Roland,  "I  wish  to  speak  with 
you  privately." 

"Anything  you  have  to  say  to  me  you  are  at  liberty 
to  say  before  these  gentlemen,"  returned  Frank,  in- 
stantly. 

Ditson  hesitated.  He  held  something  in  his  hand; 
that  something  was  wrapped  with  paper. 

"I'd  rather  speak  privately  with  you,"  he  said. 

Some  of  the  lads  moved  as  if  to  leave  the  room,  but 
Frank  checked  them. 

"Stay  where  you  arc,"  he  said.  "I  prefer  to  have 
witnesses  to  any  conversation  that  may  take  place  be- 
tween Mr.  Ditson  and  myself." 

Roland  was  pale,  and  he  seemed  nerved  up. 

"Perhaps  you  do  not  wish  to  hear  what  I  have  to 
say,"  he  questioned. 

"Go  ahead,  sir." 

"Well,  it  is  like  this :  I  have  been  friendly  with  Evan 
Hartwick  of  late,  but  he  assaulted  me  to-day.  I  be- 


Proof.  377 

lieve  he  was  crazy  enough  to  murder  me,  and  I  am 
afraid  he  may  attempt  it  again.  Now  if  I  will  give 
you  the  proofs  you  desire  against  him,  will  you  agree 
not  to  use  them  to  injure  me,  and  to  protect  me  from 
him?" 

"Mr.  Ditson,"  said  Frank,  slowly,  "I  do  not  care  to 
make  a  compact  with  you.  You  are  my  enemy,  as 
you  have  demonstrated.  I  do  not  trust  you.  I  will 
make  no  agreement." 

Ditson  was  dazed  for  a  moment,  for  he  had  ex- 
pected Merriwell  would  be  only  too  glad  to  make  a  bar- 
gain with  him.  However,  he  felt  that  he  had  gone  too 
far  to  withdraw.  Hartwick  would  learn  that  he  had 
offered  to  turn  against  him,  and  it  was  certain  that 
Hartwick  would  be  furious.  He  could  not  back  out 
now. 

"I  throw  myself  on  your  generosity,  Mr.  Merri- 
well !"  he  cried.  "I  am  going  to  tell  you  anyway,  and 
I  believe  you  are  too  much  of  a  gentleman  to  injure  me 
with  any  information  I  may  give  you.  I  know  Hart- 
wick was  the  one  who  struck  you  down  in  front  of  the 
runaway,  for  he  told  me  so  to-day.  I  will  swear  to 
that.  It  was  an  attempt  to  maim  you  for  life— or 
kill  you!" 

"By  thunder!"  cried  Griswold,  wildly.  "That  set- 
tles his  hash !" 


378  Proof. 

I 

"But  that  is  not  all  I  wish  to  tell  you,"  Ditson  swiftly 
and  almost  tremblingly  continued.  "I  know  that  he 
deliberately  planned  to  mark  you  for  life  when  you 
fenced  with  him.  I  did  not  know  it  before  the  en- 
counter took  place,  believe  me.  He  simply  told  me 
that  he  would  fix  you,  but  I  did  not  know  what  he 
meant,  or  how  he  was  going  to  do  it.  He  had  pre- 
pared his  foil  in  advance  so  that  he  could  remove  the 
button,  and  the  point  was  sharpened.  He  had  me 
smuggle  the  foil  out  of  the  gym.  I  have  kept  it  ever 
since.  His  initials  are  on  the  handle.  Here  it  is !" 

Ditson  removed  a  broken  foil  from  the  paper.  Mer- 
riwell  took  it,  and  examined  the  point  of  the  blade.  As 
Ditson  had  said,  it  showed  that  it  had  been  tampered 
with.  The  others  crowded  around  and  looked  at  it. 

"What  will  you  do,  Merriwell?"  they  asked. 

"I  shall  look  for  Mr.  Hartwick  this  evening,"  an- 
swered Frank,  grimly. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

FRANK    STRIKES    BACK. 

Hartwick  was  in  his  room.  There  came  a  knock  on 
the  door. 

"It  is  Ditson,"  he  thought.  "He  has  come  back  to 
settle  things.  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  I  didn't  want  to 
go  to  him. 

"Come  in,"  he  called. 

The  door  opened  and  Frank  Merriwell  entered.  He 
was  alone. 

Hartwick  was  staggered. 

"You?"  he  cried— "you  here?" 

"Yes,"  said  Frank,  coldly,  "I  am  here." 

"What  for?" 

"To  settle  with  you." 

"Settle!"  snarled  Hartwick,  savagely.  "What  <Io 
you  mean  by  that?" 

The  key  was  in  the  door.  Merriwell  turned  it  in 
the  lock,  took  it  out  and  put  it  in  his  pocket. 

"I  will  tell  you  what  I  mean,"  he  said,  still  speaking 
without  a  trace  of  excitement,  yet  with  an  ominous 
sound  in  his  voice.  "You  have  tried  to  injure  me  in 
the  most  cowardly  manner,  and  you " 


380  Frank  Strikes  Back. 

"Open  that  door !"  cried  Hartwick.  "If  you  do  not, 
I'll  shout,  and  I'll  swear  that  you  came  in  here  and 
threatened  my  life!" 

"You  will  do  nothing  of  the  kind,"  declared  Frank. 

"Why  not?" 

"Because  when  the  fellows  came  to  this  door,  I 
would  let  them  in  and  tell  them  what  I  know  about 
you — what  I  can  prove." 

"You  can't  prove  anything." 

"That  is  where  you  are  mistaken." 

"Well,  what  can  you  prove — what  dare  you  prove  ?" 

"I  know  what  you  think.  You  believe  I  refer  to  cer- 
tain things  which  would  involve  two  young  ladies.  I 
do  not.  I  would  not  mention  those  things.  But  I  can 
prove  that  you  attempted  my  life  by  knocking  me 
down  in  front  of  the  runaway  yesterday." 

"Bah !     That  is  a  bluff !     You  cannot  prove  it !" 

"You  are  mistaken.  Mr.  Roland  Ditson  has  de- 
clared before  myself  and  four  others  that  you  told 
him  so." 

"I  do  not  believe  it !" 

"You  will  before  I  am  through.  I  can  prove  an- 
other thing." 

Hartwick  ground  his  teeth,  but  did  not  speak. 

"I  can  prove  that,  with  a  fixed  foil,  you  tried  to 
pierce  the  mask  that  protected  my  face,  so  that  you 


Frank  Strikes  Back.  381 

might  destroy  one  of  my  eyes,  mark  me  for  life,  or 
kill  me,  perhaps." 

"How  can  you  prove  it?" 

"By  producing  the  foil,  with  your  name  on  the 
handle." 

Hartwick  forced  a  harsh,  derisive  laugh. 

"More  bluff!"  he  cried. 

"Do  you  think  so?    Look  at  this!" 

From  beneath  his  coat  Frank  took  one-half  of  the 
telltale  foil. 

Evan  glared  at  it  and  then  he  turned  pale.  He  real- 
ized that  Merriwell  had  told  everything  straight. 

Like  a  tiger,  he  leaped  at  Frank,  thinking  to  take 
him  by  surprise,  knock  him  down  and  obtain  possession 
of  the  foil. 

Merriwell  dropped  the  broken  foil  behind  him, 
warded  Hartwick  off,  and  then  his  fist  shot  out. 

Crack! — a  terrific  blow  landed  between  Hartwick's 
eyes,  knocking  him  down  in  an  instant. 

Frank  picked  up  the  foil. 

"Blow  for  blow!"  he  cried,  standing  over  his  pros- 
trate foe.  "And  this  is  not  the  end!  With  such  as 
you  one  cannot  be  merciful!  I  have  tried  it.  If  you 
wish  to  escape  open  disgrace  and  expulsion  from  col- 
lege, you  will  leave  Yale  immediately  and  never  re- 
turn, Evan  Hartwick !  I  mean  it !  I  will  give  you  un- 


382'  Frank  Strikes  Back. 

til  to-morrow  noon  to  get  out.  If  you  are  not  gone  by 
that  time,  the  whole  college  shall  know  the  kind  of 
man  you  are — the  professors  shall  know  it !  You  will 
be  publicly  disgraced !  This  is  my  blow  in  return  for 
the  disgrace  you  sought  to  bring  on  me  P 

Then,  without  another  word,  he  took  out  the  key, 
unlocked  the  door,  and  departed. 


When  Frank  Merriwell  next  called  on  Winnie  Lee 
he  informed  her  that  Evan  Hartwick  had  left  Yale 
and  New  Haven  for  good. 

"How  did  that  happen  ?"  asked  Winnie,  in  surprise. 

"He  was  driven  out  by  the  pressure  brought  to  bear 
on  him,"  answered  Frank,  with  a  strange  smile. 

"I  do  not  think  I  understand." 

"Well,  the  time  came  when  I  was  forced  to  do  some- 
thing to  protect  myself,  and  you  stood  in  fear  of  him." 

"Oh,  I  did!"  cried  Winnie,  drawing  closer  to  Frank. 
"He  seemed  to  hate  me  after  I  found  out  what  a  mean 
fellow  he  was,  and  would  have  nothing  to  say  to  him." 

"I  obtained  proof  that  he  struck  me  down  before 
your  horse  when  I  tried  to  stop  the  animal.  I  obtained 
proof  of  other  things.  He  knew  I  could  cause  his  dis- 
grace and  expulsion." 


Frank  Strikes  Back.  383 

"And  he  ran  away  ?" 

"He  left  rather  than  face  disgrace,  for  I  promised  to 
expose  him  if  he  did  not  go.  Did  I  do  right,  Winnie?'* 

"Right,  Frank?  Why,  I  do  not  believe  you  would 
willingly  wrong  a  person  for  all  the  world !" 

"Dear  little  girl !"  he  softly  said,  his  arm  encircling 
her. 

"And  I  am  so  glad  Hartwick  is  gone!"  said  Win- 
nie. "I  was  awfully  afraid  of  him!" 

"You  need  fear  him  no  more,  my  queen,"  mur- 
mured Frank,  as  he  gave  her  a  tight  squeeze.  "If  he 
ever  bothers  you  again,  I'll  soon  send  him  about  his 
business." 

"You  have  been  through  many  perils,  Frank,"  went 
on  Winnie,  with  a  little  shiver.  "I  hope,  in  the  future, 
you  have  plenty  of  sport  but  no  more  difficulties." 

"I  guess  I'll  have  my  full  share  of  both,"  he  an- 
swered, with  a  laugh,  and  he  was  right,  as  we  will  see 
in  the  next  volume  of  this  series,  entitled,  "Frank  Mer- 
ri well's  Races,"  wherein  we  will  meet  many  friends  and 
perhaps  a  few  enemies  again. 

But  for  the  time  all  went  well.  The  boys  celebrated 
Hartwick's  absence  from  Yale  by  a  grand  spread  in 
Frank's  room.  The  spread  lasted  until  three  in  the 
morning  and  the  fun  never  died  down  once  in  that 


384  Frank  Strikes  Back. 

time.    When  the  others  left  they  sang  one  of  their  fa- 
Yorite  songs,  and  Frank  was  the  hero  of  it 

'Tor  he's  a  jolly  good  fellow! 
For  he's  a  jolly  good  fellow!! 
For  he's  a  jolly  good  fellow!!! 
Which  nobody  can  deny !" 


THE  END, 


"BEST  OF  ALL  BOYS'  BOOKS " 
THE  FAMOUS 

Frank  Merriwell  Stories 

By  BURT  L.  STANDISH 

No  modern  series  of  tales  for  boys  and  youths  has 
met  with  anything  like  the  cordial  reception  and  popu- 
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There  must  be  a  reason  for  this  and  there  is.  Frank 
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Merriwell's  example  is  a  shining  light  for  every  ambitious 
lad  to  follow. 

Twenty-four  volumes  ready 

Frank  Meiriwell's  School  Days     Frank  Merriwell's  Skill 
Frank  Merriwell's  Chums  Frank  Merriwell's  Champions 

Frank  Merriwell's  Foes  Frank  Merriwell's  Return  to  Yale 

Frank  Merriwell's  Trip  West        Frank  Merriwell's  Secret 
Frank  Merriwell  Down  South       Frank  Merriwell's  Loyalty 
Frank  Merriwell's  Bravery  Frank  Merriwell's  Reward 

Frank  Merriwell's  Races  Frank  Merriwell's  Faith 

Frank  MerriwelFs  Hunting  Tour  Frank  Merriwell's  Victories 
Frank  Merriwell's  Sports  Afield    Frank  Merriwell's  Power 
Frank  Merriwell  at  Yale  Frank  Merriwell's  Set-Back 

Frank  Merriwell's  Courage  Frank  Merriwell's  False  Friend 

Frank  Merriwell's  Daring  Frank  Merriwell's  Brother 

Illustrated,  cloth  binding,  5O  cents  per  volume 

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INTO  THE  JAWS  OF  DEATH.    By  John  De  Morgan. 

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